A comprehensive sex education approach for HIV testing and counselling

Abstract

Despite huge prevention efforts the number of HIV infections worldwide continues to increase dramatically. Among other strategies, the HIV test offers an important chance for targeted prevention, provided quality counselling is offered. Several studies have revealed that HIV testing is often performed in less than optimal conditions and is often not effective. In this paper we argue that effective counselling must be based on a comprehensive sex education approach. To understand sexual risk behaviour, and to change it, the complexity of sexual behaviour has to be taken into account. Sex is one of the most socially diverse of human activities. The meaning of sex differs profoundly among societies, cultures, subcultures, particular relationships and individuals. As a consequence, HIV counselling must be tailored to the specific risk situation of the particular individual or couple asking for the test. Rather than (or in addition to) offering universal knowledge and advice, the counsellor should discuss the specific meaning of (unsafe) sex and the obstacles for safer sex for the specific person or couple in a dialogue and focus on their empowerment in order to have safer sex in the future.

Interaction Effects Between Exposure to Sexually Explicit Online Materials and Individual, Family, and Extrafamilial Factors on Hong Kong High School Students’ Beliefs About Gender Role Equality and Body-Centered Sexuality

“…Based on a survey study of Hong Kong high school students’ exposure to SEOM, their intrapersonal, interpersonal, and cultural experiences, and their conceptions of gender and sexuality, this article demonstrates how the ecological perspective provides a frame of reference in which to examine the interaction effects of various psychosocial correlates. Supported by the results of this research, the ecological perspective can offer a theoretical framework for the provision of sexuality education (Colpin, 2006). Youth workers and sex education practitioners should pay attention to individual adolescents and their surrounding social systems as well as the reciprocal relationship between them.…”

“…Supported by the results of this research, the ecological perspective can offer a theoretical framework for the provision of sexuality education (Colpin, 2006). Youth workers and sex education practitioners should pay attention to individual adolescents and their surrounding social systems as well as the reciprocal relationship between them.…”

“…In recent years, there has been a growing trend toward the use of the ecological perspective in understanding adolescents’ sexual development (Colpin, 2006). Based on the word “ecology,” this perspective is related to the application of biological science to the transactions between a human organism and its environment (Bronfenbrenner, 1979).…”