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Mohammad Khairul Alam
Acquired Immune Defiency
Syndrome (AIDS) is a viral Sexual Transmission Diseases (STDs) which threatens
life expectancy and, with it, development, social cohesion, political stability
and food security. It imposes a devastating economic burden on countries. It
affects everyone in both developed and less develops countries. It is not a
disease of poverty. It is not individual problem. But the epidemic does push
people deeper into poverty, making it more difficult for them to sustain or
recover their earlier livelihoods. That, in turn, can make people and their
families more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS infection.
In Bangladesh, commercial
female sex workers (CSWs) are among the most vulnerable groups. Certainly, young
women’ prostitution is mounting in Bangladesh. Young women engage or are forced
into prostitution for trafficking or socio-economic reasons. Most of them CSWs
are the age of teen and illiterate. Their profession exposes them to tremendous
risk and increases the likelihood of their partners/customers also being
infected. Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation carried out a recent field
investigation, the research confirmed that adolescent girls’ prostitution is
widespread in
Bangladesh, although
hidden at first sight from foreigners, especially in Dhaka
city. Adolescent girls involved in prostitution are to be found in residence
homes converted into brothels or in hotels. The majority are aged 15-18.
Sharing injecting equipment
is other most effective ways of spreading an HIV/AIDS epidemic. Studies in
several regions in
Bangladesh have shown that there is no shortage of risky behaviour among
injection drug users (IDUs). This is due to the fact that injection drug use is
usually illegal and a socially difficult issue, but also to the widespread
perception that HIV/AIDS epidemics among drug users are “impartial”.
In addition to transmission
through the sharing of injection equipment, injecting drug users can also
transmit HIV/AIDS to their sexual partners. Indeed, Association for Social
Advancement & Rural Rehabilitation (ASARR) research had shown sexual links
between drug users and other communities. In the first place, male and female
injection drug users (IDUs) sometimes sell sex, and some male IDUs are regular
clients of commercial female sex workers. If these individuals are infected with
HIV/AIDS while sharing needles with other IDUs, there is every chance that they
will go on to infect sex workers who in turn may infect clients who have nothing
to do with the world of Injection Drugs.
AIDS in Bangladesh therefore
depends on the conditions in the commercial sex business, including the
frequency of the incidents of men visiting female sex workers. Providing clean
needles is also considered important because it decreases the spread of HIV from
injection drug users (IDUs). It is also important to bring a behavioural change
among commercial sex workers (CSWs) by promoting the use of condom.
Despite the growing public
awareness of the existence of the HIV crisis, the actual knowledge of the
problem is superficial, particularly vulnerable groups. Their understanding of
the modes of transmission and prevention methods is incomplete and often
misconstrued. This low level of understanding handicaps positive behavioral
changes to prevent infection.
References:
1. WHO report, HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific Region, 2005.
2. “From Involvement to Empowerment”, UNDP, 2004
3. ASARR report, 2006
tag: female, male,
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women, consensual, premarital, exmarital, sexuality, empowerment, gender,
education, prevention, dhaka, india, pakistan, bangladesh, adolescent, teen,
teenage, truck drivers. trafficking, epidemic, street girls, knowledge, young
people, discrimination, nonconsensual, coerced sex, sexual partners, safe sex,
sexually transmitted diseases, stds, stis, sexual abuse, forced sex, risky
sexual behaviour, business, multi partner sex, heterosexual, injection,
intravenous drugs users,
prostitution,
men who have sex with men, msm, harassment, sugar daddies, relationships,
condom, polygamy, homosexuality, extra marital, relations, truckers, migrant
workers, gay, hijras, hermaphrodites, professional blood donors, heroin smokers,
hotel, brothel, street based commercial sex workers, casual sex workers, so
called sex workers, violence, exploitation, Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan
Foundation, Mohammad Khairul Alam
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