source:http://www.newsnet.co.zw/index.php?nID=14979
date: 10 February 2009

Scientists say that tests on a microbicide gel designed to prevent sexual transmission of HIV prove that the cream reduces chances of contracting the virus in women by 30%.

This was revealed at a conference held in Harare which coincided with the presentation of the research findings by the Microbicide Trials Network at an international meeting held in Montreal, Canada.

The Montreal results include statistics from clinical trials conducted in Zimbabwe using the gel.

The Minister of Health and Child Welfare Dr David Parirenyatwa commended the University Of Zimbabwe research team for the best research results among tests held at six other research sites.

He said the results are a clear testimony of the quality of medical professionals in the country.

Dr Parirenyatwa urged those who left to work outside the country to return and complement the efforts of their colleagues.

The principal investigator of the research at the university Professor Mike Chirenje said the gel is going to assist in preventing sexually transmitted infections to women,

Professor Chirenje however emphasized on the need for people to continue using safe methods of preventing HIV infection such as the use of condoms and abstinence.

Thank you Nqaba for sharing this. The conclusion of this study as reported by AIDSMAP (http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/6EB96FD6-425A-4F22-8083-1233C649664D.asp), is that even at 30% prevention, this gel is NOT statistically effective. The 30% is not a significant enough outcome, to ascribe success to the gel, particularly at a P-value of 0.1 (worry not what this means, but trust me in that this is not what you want to see as a researcher or statistician). In scientific studies an outcome with a P=value of 0.1 is not usually considered a success of whatever hypothesis is being tested. It seems to me that in the case of PRO 2000, there has been a lot of hope placed in this potential therapy that even in the light of the statistically insignificant results, there is an effort to portray some level of success with this therapy.