Prevention Matters

Unmet contraceptive needs and unsafe sex both figure in the top 20 risk factors for mortality and burden of disease, says an editorial in PLoS Medicine.

The editors, whose publication is produced by Public Library of Science, call for political and religious leaders to redouble their efforts to realign research and policy making to promote better sexual health for all, and provide the support that is necessary to enable medical research to fulfill its role in promoting sexual health. The editors said these matters have been included in PLoS Medicine's recently announced priority areas for publication.

'There are 19 million new cases of STDs each year in the United States, at an estimated cost of US$15.9 billion annually to the US health care system," the editors write.