Understanding motives for intravaginal practices amongst Tanzanian and Ugandan women at high risk of HIV infection: The embodiment of social and cultural norms and well-being
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Date
2014
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd
Abstract
Some types of intravaginal practices (IVP) may increase the risk for HIV acquisition. This is particularly
worrisome for populations with dual high prevalence of HIV and IVP. Women involved in transactional
sex are at increased risk for HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa. Social, cultural and economic influences
are strong drivers of IVP in this population. To explore this, we carried out a qualitative research study to
investigate the drivers and motivations for using IVP within a large observational study of women at high
risk of HIV in Tanzania and Uganda from September 2008 to September 2009. Of the 201 women
selected, 176 women took part in a semi-structured in-depth interview. Additionally, in Tanzania, eight
focus group discussions among study participants and community members were carried out to obtain
information on community norms and expectations. IVP were motivated by overlapping concerns with
hygiene, morality, sexual pleasure, fertility, relationship security, and economic security. These motives
were driven by the need to meet cultural and social expectations of womanhood, and at the same time
attend to personal well-being. Among women involved in transactional sex in East Africa, interventions
aimed at modifying or eliminating IVP should attend to local cultural and social norms as well as the
individual as an agent of change.
Description
Keywords
Intravaginal practices, Hygiene, Sexuality, Tanzania U, Hiv
Citation
Lees, S., Zalwango, F., Andrew, B., Vandepitte, J., Seeley, J., Hayes, R. J., & Francis, S. C. (2014). Understanding motives for intravaginal practices amongst Tanzanian and Ugandan women at high risk of HIV infection: the embodiment of social and cultural norms and well-being. Social science & medicine, 102, 165-173.