Often people find it difficult to talk about sexual issues. It can be embarrassing and in many places it is culturally taboo. God created sex as a good gift for men and women to enjoy. Yet harmful attitudes and lack of information about sexual issues contribute to so much suffering and death across the world, including the spread of HIV. We cannot afford to stay silent. I hope this Footsteps will help open up discussion of this vital topic.
Sexual health is not just about physical health, it involves social, spiritual, cultural, legal, medical and psychological issues. These include sexual desire, human rights, gender equality, and reducing stigma and sexual violence.
At Tearfund, we hold up God’s ideal of sex as designed only for the committed and exclusive relationship of marriage. We also understand the need to protect life and face up to the realities of our broken world, particularly in response to the AIDS pandemic. There is no simple solution. Faithfulness in marriage is no protection against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections if someone is raped or their partner is unfaithful. Gender inequalities and widespread sexual violence mean that many women have little control over sexual relationships or the ability to negotiate using protection. Condoms may be unavailable or unaffordable.
These underlying social issues need to be dealt with if men and women everywhere are to enjoy sexual health.