Answer to Question #305205 in Sociology for Keah

Question

Examine how a lack of sexual education could result in one partner being infected by STI and HIV/AID

Answer 1

Sexuality education is teaching about the cognitive, emotional, social, interactive and physical aspects of sexuality. Sexuality education does not encourage children and young people to have sex.

Lack of sexual education in sexual relationships is related to women’s increased vulnerability to HIV positivity, as male dominance in intimate relationships increases women’s vulnerability to HIV. This suggests that prevention efforts have not successfully resulted in gender equality. Effective HIV prevention interventions should target gender power differences between men and women to try and improve women's empowerment. Social and behavioral change communication (SBCC) interventions should be designed to target such gendered health-related problems nested in HIV control initiatives.

Gender power imbalances that manifest in men being the sex initiators or the ones’ who set the conditions for sexual encounters, result in relationship power imbalances that limit the ability of women to protect themselves against HIV infection from their sexual partners. This is because they are unable to negotiate for safe sex, even if they are aware that they are being exposed to HIV. Although gender inequality has been recognized as an important contextual factor in HIV risk, prevention programs have not resulted in greater gender equality. Gendered power continues to influence HIV risk in at least heterosexual transmission of HIV.