| Gender and human and legal rights
In this area there is a very specific focus on the rights of women and girls. The aim is to reduce the risk of women and girls being infected by reducing poverty amongst women. Secondly will there be a focus on ensuring that current laws regarding gender-based violence are implemented. Thirdly, it is
mentioned that the needs of women in abusive relationships be addressed and lastly that no laws, policies or customs discriminate against women and girls in South Africa (DoH, 2007).
Cultural practices very often inhibit women from discussing sex and asking their partners for the use of condoms. These types of taboos can increase the risk of HIV-infection (Foreman, 1999). The reluctance of people to discuss the occurrence of anal sex (among men and women) also increases the vulnerability of women to be infected with HIV (Foreman, 1999). Qwana (in Gender-Aids 2004) indicates that among Sowetan women that responded in her study up to 14 – 18 percent of women admitted that they have practiced anal sex. She indicates that discussing anal sex is still a cultural taboo. Unprotected anal intercourse has the highest risk of transmitting HIV. This information is very often not highlighted in prevention programmes. The WHO (2003) also supports a greater focus on the risk associated with anal sex.
Other cultural practices can also be blamed for the vulnerability of women. The early pregnancy of girls is given as one of the reasons by Reid (2001). According to Rweyemamu (1999) and HRW (2003:54) some women insert herbs and powders into their vaginas to reduce the amount of vaginal secretion, so as ‘to keep the vagina in a virgin state’ and to make it ‘dry and tight’. Ramjee (2000:282) reports that other substances used are patent medicines and household detergents. Such dry sex practices can lead to abrasions in the vagina during intercourse can result in the breaking of condoms, and these increase the risk for women of contracting the virus (Abdool Karim, 1998; Busse, 2003).
Men are often blamed for their refusal to use condoms during sexual intercourse. This refusal is based on notions of masculinity. Cultural factors also prevent some women insisting on the use of condoms. According to Rao Gupta et al (2003:11) some women in Brazil, South Africa, Jamaica and India also don’t like using condoms. Some young women (own research) alluded to the fact that many young women and girls, claim that they do not like using condoms as that takes away some of the romance in lovemaking. Some believe that if a condom falls off during intercourse it will get lost or travel to the throat. Another belief is that a condom attaches itself to the woman’s reproductive organs and these will come out when the condom is removed. (Focus group discussion, 3 August 2004).
Dostları ilə paylaş: |
