Heterosexual Transmission

In contrast to oral sex or deep kissing, vaginal intercourse is clearly an important route of infection. The AIDS virus can be spread by either a man or a woman in the coursework of intercourse.

On a relative scale, vaginal intercourse appears to be less effective in spreading the virus than anal intercourse, & less contagious from female to male than the reverse. As yet, the risk of transmission in a single act of vaginal intercourse is unknown. But current facts suggests that frequent or long-term sexual exposure with an infected partner or partners is an important factor in transmission.

Some confusion initially surrounded the status of Haitians, who were one time listed as a separate risk group for AIDS. Epidemiologists have since found that the infection rate is not high among Haitians who are longterm U.S. residents. It is high, though, among recent immigrants with a history of venereal disease or sexual contact with prostitutes. In both Haiti & central Africa, infected prostitutes are an important factor in the spread of the virus among heterosexuals.

As of mid-1988, about four percent of newly diagnosed AIDS cases in the U.S. can be traced to heterosexual transmission. A large number of the victims are spouses or long-term sexual partners of AIDS patients or other high-risk individuals, intravenous-drug users. Another giant segment includes immigrants from Haiti & central Africa, where the virus spreads chiefly by heterosexual intercourse.