Sex and Contemporary Caribbean Women Living in a Carnival Culture: A Prospective Study

The worldwide feminisation of HIV and AIDS has not left the Caribbean region unscathed. A decade ago, infection rates among West Indian females were 3-6 times higher than those of males. This review seeks to address the crucial and inter-related roles of socio-cultural issues: patriarchy; commercialisation of sex; men who have sex with men; violence; and religious practices; all of which contribute to HIV and AIDS risk in the Caribbean. In so doing, the paper raises awareness of the stark reality of the lives of Caribbean women and the ways in which Caribbean culture disproportionately exposes them to the risk of contracting HIV and AIDS. The paper recommends that further research should be done to address the key socio-cultural elements that negatively influence male-female relationships and their impact on HIV and AIDS risk in the Caribbean.