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Understanding young men's sexual health and prospects for sexual behaviour change in rural Zambia

Institute of Economic and Social Research (INESOR), University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia, pndubani{at}hotmail.com

Virginia Bond

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, ZAMBART Project, School of Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia

Rita Liljeström

International Health Care, Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

Bengt Höjer

International Health Care, Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

Aims: 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.

Key Words: HIV/AIDS • sexual behaviour • STI • young men • Zambia.

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Vol. 31, No. 4, 291-296 (2003)
DOI: 10.1080/14034940210164975


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