Attitudes to sex and sexual behaviour in rural Matabeleland

ABSTRACT

"In Zimbabwe HIV is predominantly transmitted heterosexually. Prevention campaigns have been based on assumptions about sexual behaviour. Increased awareness of HIV has not led to meaningful change in sexual behaviour. Through structured interviews and focus group discussions in a rural district of Matabeleland in Zimbabwe this study contributes to the knowledge of attitudes towards sex and sexual behaviour in order to define more appropriate health education messages. Traditional sex education no longer exists and has been replaced with ignorance and secrecy. Similarly communication between sexual partners is limited. Men's habit of marrying much younger women after many years of being a sexually active bachelor and migrant labour create a demand for extra- and pre-marital sexual partners. The almost ubiquitous expectation of women for rewards for sex outside marriage and the economic necessity to seek such income motivate mostly unmarried women to meet the male demand for sexual partners. Young girls are especially vulnerable to temptations of a small reward from ""sugar daddies"" in return for sexual favours. While most married women have resigned themselves to the fact that their husbands have an irresistible tendency to court other women; a strict moral code for married women strongly condemns extramarital partners. Recommendations are given to restore traditional communication about sexual matters across generations and to urge sexual partners to discuss sex. Women who for economic reason engage in casual sex should at least learn to negotiate the use of condoms. Men seriously need to reconsider some attitudes to sex and sexual practices. The high HIV sero-prevalence and prevalence of STD's throughout Zimbabwe makes every unprotected casual sexual encounter a suicidal enterprise. Faithfulness; rather than multiple sexual contacts; should become a reason to boast. ""Casual sex free"" bars could help men who know the danger of HIV infection to avoid the temptation of picking up a woman at a bar; when alcohol has clouded their good intentions."