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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:To Change or Not to Change: Obstacles and Resistance to Sexual Behavioural Change among the Youth in Ghana in the Era of AIDS
Author:Anarfi, John KwasiISNI
Year:2003
Periodical:Research Review (ISSN 0855-4412)
Volume:19
Issue:1
Pages:27-45
Language:English
Notes:biblio. refs., maps
Geographic terms:Ghana
West Africa
Subjects:youth
sexuality
AIDS
Health, Nutrition, and Medicine
Family Planning and Contraception
Cultural Roles
Women and Their Children
Medicine, Nutrition, Public Health
AIDS (Disease)
Unsafe sex
Behavior modification
Sexual behavior surveys
HIV infections
Abstract:Ghana has one of the highest levels of reported cases of HIV/AIDS in the West African subregion. The majority of infected persons are in their twenties. This paper presents a review of available literature on sexual behaviour, which shows a number of hindrances to positive behavioural responses to the threat of HIV/AIDS. Some of these factors are related to social institutions and structures, such as marriage, and particularly polygamy; the culture of silence adopted by society concerning the sex education of youths; a breakdown of puberty rites; and economic motivations of young girls and women. Next, the paper presents the results of a study on perceptions of and reactions to the HIV/AIDS epidemic which was carried out among in and out-of-school youth in five regions in Ghana (Greater Accra, Eastern, Ashanti, Northern and Upper East Regions). The young people interviewed confirmed most of the issues raised in the literature review. Attention is paid to knowledge, attitudes and misconceptions related to HIV/AIDS; protection during sexual intercourse; obstacles to change; societal influence; and the influence of Western education and Christianity. Bibliogr., sum. [ASC Leiden abstract]
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