Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Miami Herald - May 11, 2002
Sara Olkon, solkon@herald.com
The idea makes many people -- including some doctors -- uncomfortable, but the question is critical, said Jolene M. Mullins, an early intervention consultant with the Florida Department of Health.
Mullins spoke about HIV and older people Friday at the 21st Annual Broward Aging Network Conference at Broward Community College's Central Campus in Davie.
"We hear about teenagers all the time," said Mullins.
"But there is nothing about seniors and what is putting them at risk for the disease.
"It's never mentioned."
The audience, mostly area social workers and other health care professionals, nodded quickly.
Thirteen percent of AIDS cases reported in Broward County were among persons 50 and older, Mullins said.
Reasons for that rate include a reluctance to use condoms and misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis by physicians who do not question their senior patients about possible risk factors for HIV and AIDS, she said.
At-risk seniors over 50 were one-sixth as likely to use condoms and one-fifth as likely to be tested for HIV as a comparison group in their 20s, Mullins said.
Still, AIDS tests are not a routine part of most seniors' yearly physicals.
"Many physicians don't see seniors as someone at risk or they fear they will be offensive to seniors [to ask]," Mullins said.
She passed around an unwrapped female condom and a dental dam, then gave out colorful condoms and sample-size containers of personal lubricants.
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