from IRIN
New research from Somalia has debunked the long-held view that discussions about sex are off-limits in this conservative nation, opening the door to a deeper understanding of sexual behaviour patterns and the possibility of more tailored prevention strategies.
"It's not so much the 'what' of the message as it is the 'how'," said Adrienne Testa, lead researcher in a recent study by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). "Choice of researchers is key: in the Somali context we found that women who are familiar with the community did very well; men found it acceptable to talk to female researchers and were open about the risk behaviours they engaged in."
Somalia's three geographical divisions - the self-declared Republic of Somaliland in the northwest, the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland in the northeast and south-central Somalia - have an average HIV prevalence of 0.9 percent, according to UNAIDS. However, recent data indicates that HIV infections are rising sharply in hotspots like the northwestern port town of Berbera, on the Red Sea.
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Monday, February 25, 2008
SOMALIA: It's not impossible to talk about sex
