New Book: Sexuality in the time of AIDS

[Guest guest]

SEXUALITY IN THE TIME OF AIDS: Contemporary Perspectives from

Communities in India

Edited by: RAVI K VERMA Population Council, New Delhi

PERTTI J PELTO University of Connecticut

STEPHEN L SCHENSUL University of Connecticut School of Medicine

ARCHANA JOSHI ORG Center for Social Research, Vadodara

Published: May 2004, Pages: 428, Published by: SAGE India, Price

(INR) Rs.695, Rs.450

This book contributes greatly to our understanding of contemporary

sexual behaviour and sexual attitudes in both rural and urban India

and in different strata of society, including adolescent girls, sex

workers (male and female), college students and slum dwellers.

Presenting case studies from around the country, the original essays

in this book identify the contextual, cultural and social factors

that contribute to the risk of infection. They cover three broad

areas:

An overview of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in India and the response of

both the government and the public.

Perspectives from diverse communities concerning premarital, marital

and extramarital sexuality.

Lessons learned at the national level in terms of research

methodology and in the development of new approaches to HIV/AIDS.

Overall, the book stresses the need to view sexuality and risk in a

broad cultural and social context, as also emphasizes the need to

learn directly from the community in order to develop innovative

programmes.

This is a very unique collection of high quality research articles

written in most upright and frank manner. The book is an attempt to

bring back the issue of sexuality in the center stage of HIV

discussion with proper perspective. In this sense, the book goes

far beyond an academic exercise. The foreword is by JVR Prasada Rao.

It is receiving appropriate and good reviews from leading Indian

News papers

Reviews:

This timely book...advocates looking at sex and sexuality in a

broader socio-cultural context and illustrates the points

effectively through data and statistics. The book contains essays by

contributors who are well-known in the respective professions.

Asian Age

The book studies sexuality through pornography, sexual experiences

in urban slums, sexual behaviour in rural areas, the functioning of

brothels, and sexual health and diseases. It is comprehensive,

informative and completely absorbing.

Hindustan Times

This anthology of essays contributes to our understanding of

contemporary sexual behaviour and attitudes in both rural and urban

India and in different strata of society, including adolescent

girls, male and female prostitutes, college students and slum

dwellers. With its blend of qualitative and quantitative information

and its emphasis on the need to develop practical intervention

programmes based on a frank understanding of sexual behaviours in

India, this book should be of value to a wide audience.

The Statesman

[Moderators note: Prof. Ravi Verma could be contacted by <raviverma@...>]

http://www.indiasage.com/contact/index.asp