Sex talk, Indonesian youth and HIV / AIDS.

Abstract

Cultural taboos inhibit communication about sex, deny and stigmatize deviant sexual practices, and are incorporated into sexual cultures characterized by silence, shame and secrecy. In contemporary Indonesian societies, sex is often infused with negative connotations and referred to as taboo. Considering the threat that an AIDS pandemic poses, HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment represent a critical development issue that requires ongoing commitment from the Indonesian Government and the international donors that provide critical financial support in the health sector. These taboos that inhibit communication about sexuality clearly constrain attempts to challenge negative understandings of sex..