Sir, - In an excellent article on the impending sexually-transmitted infections epidemic, Anne Dempsey (June 18th), asks the question: "How do you sell safe sex?" However, due to the low level of awareness we must first ask the question: what is safe sex?
As long ago as 1991 the World Health Organisation stated: "The most effective way to prevent sexual transmission of HIV is to abstain or for two people who are not infected to be faithful to one another." In 1994, this statement was further strengthened to include the words "abstinence and fidelity". For many years even condom manufacturers have used the more accurate term "safer sex" to describe the use of their product. If we are not careful with the language we use in future campaigns, there is a danger that sexually-active young people will continue to believe the myth that as long as they are using a condom correctly they are safe from all STI transmission. - Yours, etc.,
Richard Carson, Health Education Manager, AIDS Care Education and Training Ireland, P.O. Box 3400 Dublin 14.