Girls’ Education – Impact on HIV & Sexual Behavior
Author: Womens UN Report Network
Date: July 22, 2005
WUNRN
Girl Power: The
Impact of Girls’ Education on HIV and Sexual Behaviour
Education and HIV
Series 01
Author/Publisher: ActionAid
Language: English
Download: PDF
In this systematic review of over 600 pieces of
research on girls’ education, sexual behaviour and HIV, ActionAid has shown
that secondary education provides African girls with the power to make sexual
choices that prevent HIV infection.
ActionAid finds that education gives girls power, reduces
vulnerability and helps them make more independent, confident choices about
their sexual behaviour.
The report shows that:
- Schools and teachers are the most trusted source for
young people to learn about HIV, and that school attendance ensures
greater understanding of prevention messages. It also strengthens girls’
control, confidence and negotiating abilities to decide if to have sex,
and when they do, whether to use a condom. - Peer group solidarity within school strengthens girls’
social networks and creates more responsible attitudes to sexual
behaviour, safer sex and HIV. - Conversely, girls who drop out of school are more
likely to enter into adult sexual networks, where older partners with more
experience and power dictate the “rules” of sexual engagement. - Poverty and vulnerability to HIV are closely linked.
More educated women have better economic and social prospects and
consequently have more choices.
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