See CNN: “Nigeria agency pushes marriage to control HIV spread.”

There are countless benefits from being in a loving, committed relationship that can improve the lives and well-being of HIV-positive individuals. However, AIDS agencies should not push marriage between HIV-positive individuals as it is not an effective way to prevent the spread of the disease.

The HIV virus has many strains which are continuously evolving. Therefore, two HIV-positive people can actually re-infect each other with new or different strains, thus compromising their health and encouraging the virus to diversify.

If an HIV-positive couple chooses to start a family, they should continue to practice safe sex (i.e. using condoms except when trying to concieve). It is also important to ensure that the pregnant mother and newborn child will have access to adequate health care to prevent mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT). This can be done by giving the mother Nevirapene during her pregnancy and labor, and administering doses to the newborn after birth.

Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa struggle to meet the health care needs of their populations, particularly concerning PMTCT.

-Rachel Hoy, MPH

Tags: condoms, family, marriage, Nevirapene, PMTCT, pregnancy