NAMIBIA: Casual sex still an obstacle

A Namibian-based research company on Friday said the majority of its respondents based the risk of HIV infection on the physical appearance of sex partners.

The Social Impact Assessment and Policy Analysis Corporation (SIAPAC) said 1,500 men were interviewed for its nation-wide study last year.

SIAPAC said most of the men had multiple sex partners despite the country's high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate.

UNAIDS estimates that 22.5 percent of Namibian adults between the age of 15 and 49 are HIV-positive.

"Most disturbing is that respondents had either a close relative or friend who died of AIDS-related illnesses," SIAPAC managing director, Dr David Cownie, told the UN news service PlusNews.

Cownie said the results formed a basis for further action aimed at tackling behavioural change.

"Effective peer education strategies and more voluntary counselling and testing centres can help instil a more urgent sense of risk," Cownie added.

Theme (s): Care/Treatment - PlusNews, Other,

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]