Correcting misinformation on sexual practices

Misinformation on sexual matters is rife: 40% of secondary school students in Zimbabwe thought that HIV could be caught from toilet seats; most Indian men believe that masturbation weakens a person and that sexually transmitted diseases could only be transmitted by prostitutes but not by girlfriends or domestic servants; many young people believe that pregnancy cannot occur without ejaculation; in sub-Saharan Africa, older men (or 'sugar-daddies') often believe that having sexual relations with a young or virgin girl will cure a sexually transmitted disease or prevent exposure to HIV.

1. Teaching about sexuality
2. Publicizing health
3. Fighting public misinformation
4. Correcting information

1. Controlling sexually transmitted HIV/AIDS
2. Controlling sexually transmitted diseases amongst young people
3. Campaigning against childhood genital mutilation

1. Establishing patterns of sexuality
2. Correcting gender bias

1. Incorrect information
2. Discriminatory use of language

1. Misinformation
2. Information
3. Disinformation