Understanding young men's sexual health and prospects for sexual behaviour change in rural Zambia.
OBJECTIVE
Building on the experiences of an initial study in 1993, the current survey was conducted to enhance understanding of men's sexual health and prospects for behaviour change in Chiawa, rural Zambia.


METHODS
Seventy-nine randomly selected men in the age range 16-25 years were interviewed using a questionnaire.


RESULTS
The obstacles to good sexual health reported were: inadequate access to health facilities (35%); unemployment (24%); diseases in general (20%); and HIV/AIDS (17%). Nineteen (24%) had suffered from an STI in the past. Five (13%) of the married and 16 (33%) of the single men had extra or pre-marital relationships at the time of the interviews. In 1993, 50% of the single men had pre-marital relationships. A real man (murume chaiye) was considered to be married, have children, have a job and sexually satisfy his wife; 97% considered themselves to be real men. Some 91% perceived themselves to be at risk of HIV infection; 76 (96%) were aware that HIV could be passed from mother to child, although 51 (61%) would not think about HIV when making decisions about having children. Sixty-eight (86%) believed that condoms could reduce the risk of HIV and 27% used condoms all the time they had sex. In 1993, 6% used condoms all the time they had sex.


CONCLUSIONS
There are prospects for behaviour change among the men. Prevention messages need to build on what they already know and practise. The messages must aim to change their local sexual norms, which perpetuate risky practices.
Ndubani
Phillimon
P
Institute of Economic and Social Research (INESOR), University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia. pndubani@hotmail.com
Bond
Virginia
V
Liljeström
Rita
R
Höjer
Bengt
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003469:Culture; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012423:Rural Health; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015024:Zambia