Lary H, Mbwambo JK, Katebalila M, McCauley A, Maman S; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).

Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. WePeD6553.

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States

Background: Prior research has shown a strong correlation between HIV infection and a history of interpersonal violence among women. Violence may directly lead to HIV infection through trauma from forced sex or alternatively, women in violent relationships may be less able to negotiate safe sexual behaviors. Given the vulnerability of sub-Saharan African youth to HIV and the strong association found between HIV and violence among youth, there is urgent need to understand what role violence plays in the sexual relationships of young people. Methods: Locally trained ethnographers conducted interviews (n=60) and focus group discussions (n=18) with young people between 16 and 24 years in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The data were audio-taped, transcribed, translated, coded, computerized, and analyzed. Results: Youth describe a complex interaction among violence, forced sex and infidelity in their sexual relationships. Men who narrate examples of using violence against female partners are also likely to describe incidents of forced sex and sexual infidelity in these partnerships. Men with multiple concurrent sexual partners report using violence against female partners when their fidelity is questioned and report using forced sex against regular partners when their sexual advances are resisted. Youth who felt that the use of violence and forced sex could not be justified under any circumstances were likely to be those who had not yet initiated sexual relationships or who were in monogamous partnerships. Conclusions: The data from this study emphasize the importance of developing broad understandings of the sexual dynamics operating in adolescent relationships. Failure of HIV prevention programs to take into account adolescents' experiences with violence and forced sex may lead to limited program impact. Findings from this study have formed the foundation of a community-based HIV and violence prevention intervention study with young men in Dar es Salaam.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Adolescent
• Demography
• Female
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Humans
• Interpersonal Relations
• Male
• Marriage
• Sexual Behavior
• Tanzania
• Violence

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0040252

UI: 102284468

From Meeting Abstracts