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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Condom Use within Marriage and Consensual Unions in the Era of HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe
Author:Muhwava, William
Year:2004
Periodical:African Population Studies
Volume:19
Issue:1
Period:April
Pages:119-141
Language:English
Geographic term:Zimbabwe
Subjects:contraception
Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
Health and Nutrition
Women's Issues
Cultural Roles
Marital Relations and Nuptiality
Health, Nutrition, and Medicine
Family Planning and Contraception
External link:http://www.bioline.org.br/pdf?ep04007
Abstract:This paper examines condom use within stable unions like marriage and consensual unions in Zimbabwe. The data, from the 1999 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) for four selected urban and rural areas in Matebeleland South and Mashonaland East provinces, show that condoms are used by less than 6 percent of married couples in sub-Saharan Africa. The paper examines the determinants of condom use with spouse or regular partner among 1936 individuals in Zimbabwe. Only 38 percent of the respondents reported using condoms consistently or occasionally with regular partners. There is little discussion about condoms in stable unions as only a fifth reported that they regularly talk about condoms with their spouses or partners. Couples who frequently discuss condoms are likely to be using them. The main barrier to discussing condoms is mistrust. Some qualitative research was done using focus group discussions. In these discussions, it was noted that bringing the subject of condoms to a partner might result in dire consequences like divorce, abandonment or physical abuse, and that people with negative perceptions about condoms are less likely to use them. The results also show that condoms are less likely to be used as a method of family planning, despite the fact that Zimbabwe has a high contraceptive prevalence rate. Furthermore, women are more likely to have favourable attitudes about condoms and would like to use them, but the main barrier is their partners. Men are more likely to have a negative influence on condom use. Bibliogr., sum. [Journal abstract]
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