II.2.5 MULTIPLE SEXUAL PARTNERS
social structure where take primary responsibility and
dominate in their households encourage multiple sexual partners for men inside
and outside of marriage, while women are required to be faithful and
monogamous, such socio-cultural practices and norms make man and their
partners, especially vulnerable to HIV35. In a study in Zimbabwe,
one in eight married men said they had casual sex (more than one sexual partner
in the previous twelve months), but only one in one hundred women said they had
sex outside marriage36. In these circumstances marriage puts women
at the greatest risk of HIV infection instead of protecting them. Further,
masculinity demands that men be sexual risk-takers, with lack of knowledge of
HIV and reluctance to use condoms, these practices put men and female partners
at risk of HIV. In this context, the dangers of multiple sexual partners
relates to the fact that if one person in a «circle» of partners gets
infected with HIV, there is a very high likelihood that all persons involved
will be infected.
II.2.6 HARMFUL CULTURAL AND TRADITIONAL PRACTICES
In different societies, cultural practices and traditions
abound that were adaptive and fulfilled important functions in the past that
may, today, carry serious health and welfare risks37. With regard to
HIV transmission, practices and traditions that are risky include; the practice
of dry sex, polygamy in many countries, female genital cutting, etc. Harmful
cultural practices such s widowhood, related rituals, sexual cleansing and
female genital cutting, suffering permanent and irreversible health damage;
heighten the risk of HIV transmission38. These practices are often
justified in the name of cultural values and traditions. No doubt cultural
values and traditions are important to community identities, but it is
important to realize that they cannot be continued at the cost of the right to
health of the individual. This could be either for cultural, religious,
35 UNAIDS.2005.P11
36
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37 Helen jackson.2002
38 idem
or other reasons. female genital cutting is practiced in a
large number of countries and cultures39. Female genital cutting
places girls and women at increases risk of HIV infection through several
routes. Firstly, the use of unsterilized instruments, such as razors or knives,
secondly, female genital mutilation renders the female genital more likely to
tear intercourse.
II.2.7 GENDER BASED VIOLENCE
Acts of violence greatly increase vulnerability to HIV,
especially for women and marginalized groups. Within the household this can
include battering by an intimate partner, marital rape and sexual abuse.
Violence outside the home can include rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and
assault. Various social, cultural and religious norms produce and reinforce
gender inequality and the stereotypical gender roles that
underpin40.Gender based violence is a key factor in increasing risk
of contracting HIV. Where sexual violence occurs in girls and young women, risk
of transmission is likely to be higher because girl `vaginal' tracts are
immature and tear easily during sexual intercourse.
Sexual violence can also result in indirect transmission of
HIV infection among women or men. Violence or the threat of violence affects
the individual's power and ability to negotiate the conditions of sexual
intercourse, especially condom use. More than half of the women surveyed in
Kenyan who knew they were infected with HIV said that they did not disclose
their status to their partners because they feared violence or
abandonment41. This creates an atmosphere of fear where
implementation of sustained HIV risk reduction programs is very difficult. If
not impossible. However, younger girls may further be at risk of abuse and
violence as, unable to negotiate condom use, they can increase their
vulnerability to sexually transmitted infection such as HIV/AIDS.
39 .www.icaso.org
40 UNAIDS.2000
41 UNAIDS.2005
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