Sexuality & Health

Sexuality has always been considered a matter of sensitivity about which people always feel shame and embarrassed to talk. Sexuality is not merely related to physical needs rather it is absolutely related to the mental and psychological well being of any person. Freely talking about sex and issues related to sex is considered taboo in Indian society. But the things which are kept hidden or secret and which are not accepted openly later on might become serious problems which can influence psychological well being.

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Knowledge related to sex is very confined specifically in women they have very less knowledge about infections related to reproductive and sexual health. Due to this there is increase in sexual transmitted diseases in India. According to the report of world health organization (WHO, 2006) every day near about 1 million people acquire a new curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) and more than 340 million new cases of STDs are detected each year all over the world. This much increase in the STDs, is a matter of concern. Studies exploring the reasons behind the confined knowledge about sex and sexual health in women revealed that there is no communication about these issues. Very less or no conversation about sex and sexual health issues among parents and children is the main cause. This is the core reason that parents hardly talk about these matters due to embarrassment or taboo attached to this topic. Parents always try to keep away their children from all these talks. But as we all know these matters can never keep hidden. The knowledge which is kept hidden by the parents is acquired by adolescents inappropriately which can be dangerous for the mental and physical well-being of adolescents. There are other lots of barriers in our society for acquiring knowledge about sexuality. School level education of sexuality is also not very effective and there is lack of awareness programs with regard to sex and STDs.