Saturday, June 25, 2022
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Adverts
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Society Lifting The Lid On Hiv And Aids

Sexual risk taking in older adults

by Staff Writer
17/02/2017
in Lifting The Lid On Hiv And Aids
2 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

Who says old people don’t have sex? A study by American researchers has found that older men and women in South Africa do maintain sexual relationships even into their 80s and beyond. Since older adults are often ignored in sexual health education, the possibility for HIV transmission is heightened.

They found that older adults are sexually active, and that older adults report sexual risk behaviours—low condom use, casual sex and multiple recent partners — that are consistent with sexual transmission of disease.  This marks a huge potential for ongoing HIV transmission in older South Africans, and highlights the need for expanded HIV testing and counselling that can change behaviour and help reduce new HIV transmission.

Researchers analysed data from 5,059 men and women age 40 and older in South Africa. Older adults receive little attention when it comes to HIV prevention research and interventions, although growing evidence shows they make up a fast-increasing proportion of people living with HIV, in part because of the impact of large-scale HIV treatment on reducing deaths from the disease.

Overall, HIV prevalence among people in the study was high, at 23 percent, and did not differ between men and women. About one-third of respondents reported never having been tested for HIV, and among those with confirmed infections, nearly half did not yet know they were living with HIV.

Regarding sexual activity, more than half of participants reported at least one sex partner within the past two years. Men tended to maintain sexual partnerships at relatively high rates across older ages, only dropping to 52 percent at age 80 and older. The proportion of women with recent sexual partners decreased more steeply with age, dropping to 6 percent at age 80 and older.

Individuals who reported condom use decreased with age in both men and women, as did those reporting casual or anonymous sex. Condom use was highest, at 75 percent, among those who were HIV positive, but only if they knew their status. Of those who were HIV positive but unaware of their status, only 27 percent regularly used condoms.

One in 10 participants also reported that their most recent sex partners were casual or anonymous. Casual sex was lowest among HIV-negative adults, at 9 percent, and higher among both HIV-positive groups (29 percent of those aware of their HIV status and 18 percent of those who were unaware).

The study calls for inclusion of older adults in HIV prevention, with messages created directly for that demographic, and intensified counselling and motivation about sexual transmission risk and universal HIV testing.

Previous Post

Wonders of Likoma

Next Post

ACB idayamba kale kufufuza Chaponda

Related Posts

Lifting The Lid On Hiv And Aids

Stroke, HIV and Aids

November 20, 2021
Lifting The Lid On Hiv And Aids

Underpaid and abused – the plight
of domestic workers

October 30, 2021
Lifting The Lid On Hiv And Aids

DaBaby cancelled over HIV comments

August 28, 2021
Next Post
Motowo udaononga ofesi ya nduna

ACB idayamba kale kufufuza Chaponda

Opinions and Columns

Off the Shelf

Hallucinating with getting to Canaan

June 25, 2022
Guest Spot

Chakwera to honour 20 Malawians with servant leadership

June 25, 2022
Layman's Reflection

Chakwera should lead by example

June 24, 2022
My Diary

God-fearing nation, my foot!

June 24, 2022

Malawi-Music.com Top10

Trending Stories

  • Chilima addresses UTM Party sympathises at his residence

    Tonse partners feel sidelined

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Mixed views on SKC ouster

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • SKC breaks his silence

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Ex-IG granted bail, 4 more on ACB arrest list

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Ex-soldiers threaten vigil at Capital Hill

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2022 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.