TITLE: Nonconsensual Sex
AUTHOR: FHI (Family Health International) newsletter Network
DATE: 2005
PUBLISHER: FHI
This issue of Network describes the variety of means by which children,
adolescents, and adults - men and women alike - are pressured to have sexual
relations that they do not want. Nonconsensual sex may be a major contributing
factor to such reproductive health problems as unintended pregnancy and its
complications, as well as HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Transmission of these infections will persist - despite common STI/HIV
prevention approaches of emphasizing sexual abstinence, faithfulness in
relationships, and condom use - as long as nonconsensual sex remains widespread.
Reproductive health providers are often particularly well placed to detect
sexual coercion and to care for its predominantly female victims. But
experts have called for more rigorous evaluation of provider interventions to
determine how they affect clients' health or exposure to further violence. Some
experts have also called for financial support and rigorous evaluation of
prevention initiatives that address the root causes of nonconsensual sex.
Article can be accessed on-line
here in PDF
format. To view PDF documents you will need to download and install Adobe
Acrobat Reader. The program is available for free through the Adobe website,
download here.
More help is available on PDF documents and Adobe Acrobat Reader
here