A multi-country study on gender, sexuality and vaginal practices: Implications for sexual health A multi-country study on gender, sexuality and vaginal practices: Implications for sexual health

The HIV/AIDS pandemic has raised international attention on ways to reduce the risk of STIs including HIV, through the use of condoms and potentially microbicides. It is recognized that the use and effectiveness of such methods is not only a question of availability and knowledge, but is also closely linked to socio-cultural beliefs about health, hygiene and sexuality, often expressed through women’s vaginal practices that are widespread in much of the world. Concern has also been raised about whether vaginal practices could have harmful effects such as increasing the susceptability to sexually transmitted or reproductive tract infections.