Obstacles to negotiating dual protection: perspectives of men and women.
This article presents findings from a qualitative study on the perspectives of sexually active men and women about the risks of unwanted pregnancy and HIV/AIDS. The study found that there is a high level of awareness of the risk of unwanted pregnancy and HIV/AIDS. Knowledge of condoms as a method of preventing pregnancy and HIV/AIDS is also relatively good. However, there are many real and perceived barriers to condom use especially in stable sexual relationships. In stable long-term relationships, resistance to condom use was found to be strongly related to its association with STIs (including HIV/AIDS). Men and women do not see the need for condoms in stable, ongoing sexual relationships if a more effective method is used for pregnancy prevention. Condom use in such relationships may be seen as a clear sign of infidelity. These attitudes represent a major obstacle to the use of condoms as a dual method of protection.
Maharaj
P
P
School of Development Studies, University of Natal, Durban.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017008:Negotiating; D011247:Pregnancy; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013019:South Africa