Kahwemba M, Wells J, Shetty A, Nyikadzino L, Samuriwo P, Chitibura L, Kambarami R, Chipato T; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).

Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. B11716.

UZ-UCSF Collaborative Research Programme, Harare, Zimbabwe

Issues: In Zimbabwe, pregnant women find it difficult to discuss sexual and reproductive health issues with their partners, close family members or friends. Their influence, while meant to be supportive in nature, often serves as an obstacle to remaining HIV-negative. Description: 200 pregnant women presenting for antenatal services at primary health care level were offered VCT. During the counseling sessions, women were asked questions about STIs, their own sexual behavior, their partners' sexual behavior and discussions about HIV and AIDS. Lessons Learnt: 84% of women knew and were worried that their partners had other sexual partners. 54% of women had had a STI within the last 12 months, 73% of the women reported having been forced to have sex by their partners, 69% of these women had sex with their partners even when they had STIs. The reasons were fear of abuse, which could be physical, psychological or economic. Only 20% of couples discussed issues of HIV and AIDS with each other. Reasons for staying with abusive or high-risk partners included fear of violence, partners' desertion or eviction from the marital home, women's limited ability to refuse sex or negotiate for safe sex and cultural and religious taboos on the discussion of sexual matters between husband and wife. Recommendations: Male partners and other family members must be included in the antenatal VCT process to facilitate communication about sexual issues. Individual counseling sessions with women must include tactics for the negotiation of safe sex. Failure to do so will render pregnant women and their unborn babies vulnerable to HIV infection and because of the male partner's control within a relationship those already infected may face obstacles to adherence to PMTCT regimens.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Communication
• Counseling
• Female
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Health Planning Guidelines
• Humans
• Infant
• Male
• Pregnancy
• Pregnant Women
• Safe Sex
• Sexual Behavior
• Sexual Partners
• Zimbabwe

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0032543

UI: 102276757

From Meeting Abstracts