this = the article published in New York Times about the study?

Context:
The New York Times: this led with the finding of increased risk and dwelled extensively on the implications of the conflict between prevention of unintended pregnancy and prevention of HIV. Readers had to reach paragraph nine for a description of the study. The only specific limitation of the study described was left to paragraph 16, and the sole reference to other human studies (paragraph 13) stated only that "at least two other rigorous studies" had found increased acquisition risk — no mention of work showing the opposite. Condom use and biological plausibility were mentioned only in passing. The article essentially presented the increased risk as established, and focused on the conflict it presented.
More:
http://www.nature.com/news/2011/111102/full/479007a.html