Homelessness and AIDS

The “As I See It” column “A critical connection between housing and health” is seriously flawed. The author writes: “The facts are indisputable. Homelessness and HIV/AIDS share a frighteningly causal relationship.”

Nothing could be further from the truth. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is caused by unprotected sex; not by homelessness. There may be a correlation of the two, but not a causal relationship. It is very important not to confuse causality and correlation. Homelessness does not cause HIV/AIDS.

Let’s say that single women with tattoos are more likely to be come pregnant that single women without tattoos. Does getting a tattoo cause pregnancy? Of course not! The column’s causality/correlation mistake does a great disservice to the readers.

Bob Gough
Lee’s Summit

Comments

[Stifled Freedom]

"The HIV/AIDS pandemic is caused by unprotected sex"

Not totally correct either. Dirty needles in illicit drug use is a cause. Dirty hospital needs and bad blood is also a cause. What did we hear several years back that hundres of thousands of Chinese people were infected by a mishap with bad blood.

Sex is not the only cause althought that is what they want you to believe.

[JUNGLEJACK]

"...homeless do get the raw end of this deal."

The only way the homeless are getting a "raw deal" is if their rates of contracting stds are greater than others (who have homes) who also practice unprotected sex.

It's a technicality, but the letter writer is correct.

[T. Hanson]

Not exactly Bob.

They were not insulting the homeless, but the sad fact is this. People will do anything for money and those that don't have money will do extreme things and that includes selling your body. The homeless are more common to have unprotected sex (especially the woman) to get a few dollars for food. The men that give them the few bucks are not exactly the ones that would be visiting the doctor for their quarterly physical either. The article wanted to shine a light on the dark side of STD's in general and show that the homeless do get the raw end of this deal.