‘Bury the Head in the Sand’: Older People in Sub-Saharan Africa and Sexual Risk Perception

Gloria Chepngeno-Langat, University of Southampton

The terms sexuality and risky sexual activity have almost become synonymous with teenagers and young adults and rarely do these terms have any connotation of older people, particularly in the African context where cultural norms encourage an asexual ageing process. With the advent of HIV/AIDS, however, issues and concerns surrounding sex and sexuality among older people merit research and policy consideration. Given that older people are not suspected to be sexually active or to engage in risky sexual behaviour, information and education campaigns aimed at prevention and care is seldom targeted at them. This paper examines the attitude and behaviour practices that may expose older people to HIV/AIDS infection. Data comes from a cross-sectional survey of 2,072 older men and women aged 50 years and older living in slum areas of Nairobi city, Kenya.