Global sexual health: why communal knowledge about pleasure and wellbeing matters
Originally published by The Conversation – Articles (AFRICA) — Read the original article →
For decades, discussions and decisions about access to contraception, abortion, maternal healthcare, HIV prevention and treatment, comprehensive sexuality education, gender equity, and protection from sexual violence have largely flowed in one direction. From the global north to the global south.
Researchers, donors and international organisations have exported programmes, defined success, and determined which questions matter most. How can HIV be prevented? How can contraceptive uptake be increased? How can maternal deaths be reduced? Far less attention has been paid to questions about pleasure, desire, or what communities themselves define as sexual wellbeing.
And despite decades of investment, many of the world’s biggest sexual health challenges remain. Every year there are more than 374 million new cases of four major sexually transmitted infections. More than one billion people are living with sexually transmitted infections worldwide. Furthermore, an estimated 225 million women who wish to avoid pregnancy are still not using effective contraception.
