AIDS info ignores women, say critics<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Information about the Acquired Immuno-Deficiency
\nSyndrome (AIDS) are strongly biased against women, AIDS
\ncampaigners say.<\/p>\n
This is particularly true when it comes to prostitutes, who
\nare depicted as primary infectors.<\/p>\n
\"This trend follows the previous bias against gay people, who
\nwere initially believed to be the main infectors of the HIV
\n(Human Immunodeficiency Virus),\" Danny Yatim of the Mitra
\nIndonesia, an AIDS hot line service, said at a seminar on \"AIDS
\nand Gender\" on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Speakers at the seminar, organized by the Women's Studies
\nSection of the University of Indonesia, said this bias has led
\nboth to the neglect of women infected by the HIV virus, and of
\nthe men with whom they have had sexual contact.<\/p>\n
They did not have to look far to prove their case, pointing to
\npress reports about an HIV-infected woman in Bojonegoro, East
\nJava, who gave birth last week.<\/p>\n
According to reports, the 18-year old woman, a former
\nprostitute, had been prevented from breastfeeding her baby for
\nfear of passing on the HIV virus.<\/p>\n
The authorities \"have no right to tell her that she cannot
\nbreastfeed her baby,\" said noted AIDS campaigner Nafsiah Mboi.
\n\"It should be her decision after they inform her of the possible
\nconsequences.\"<\/p>\n
Nafsiah, a member of the House of Representatives, said the
\nauthorities should focus more on \"preparing her surrounding
\ncommunity\" against misperceptions about HIV which might lead to
\nher isolation. \"They should also focus on giving her the freedom
\nto spend the rest of her life productively.\"<\/p>\n
Sexual partners<\/p>\n
Nafsiah also said that the authorities should also try to find
\nthe woman's previous sexual partners who might have contracted
\nthe virus and pass them on to their wives or others.<\/p>\n
Galuh Wandita, of the Britain-based OXFAM funding agency, said
\nthat there was an \"information gap\" among poor women which added
\nto their risk of contracting HIV. As an example. she cited the
\nconditions of East Nusa Tenggara, where she works.<\/p>\n
She said that village health centers and family planning
\ncenters are only designed to meet minimum needs of women related
\nto their reproductive functions, and overlooks their needs
\nregarding sex. \"Where does a woman go if she is worried that she
\nhas contracted a sex-related disease from her husband?\" Galuh
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
She also raised concern that the nation-wide Family Planning
\nprogram stresses modern contraceptives over \"barrier methods\"
\nincluding the use of condom.<\/p>\n
In areas where hygiene is still poor, the use of Intra-uterine
\nDevice (IUD) or injectable forms of birth control increase a
\nwoman's vulnerability to HIV.<\/p>\n
Other speakers at the seminar pointed out to the fact that
\nmany family planning centers in isolated villages still use the
\nsame syringe over and over for a number of inoculations. (anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aids-info-ignores-women-say-critics-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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