Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2005 Sep;5(3):188-97.
doi: 10.5555/afhs.2005.5.3.188.

Gender power imbalance on women's capacity to negotiate self-protection against HIV/AIDS in Botswana and South Africa

Tabitha T Langen  1
Affiliations

Gender power imbalance on women's capacity to negotiate self-protection against HIV/AIDS in Botswana and South Africa

Tabitha T Langen. Afr Health Sci. 2005 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Gender power imbalance, which translates into a power imbalance in sexual interactions, is increasingly being recognized as a factor in fueling the spread of HIV/AIDS by increasing the number of unsafe sexual encounters.

Objectives: To examine the influence of gender power imbalance and other factors on women's capacity to negotiate self protection against HIV infection; as well as men's response to the suggested condom use.

Methods: Drawing on data gathered from 2658 women aged 18-49 years in a cross-sectional survey in Kwa Zulu Natal Province of South Africa and Botswana, the study used descriptive statistics and logistic regression to reveal a number of gender related factors that significantly affect women's ability to protect themselves against HIV infection.

Results: Gender power imbalance significantly affects women's ability to suggest condom use to their partners. The study showed that it is women with partners 10 or more years older than them, abused women, and those economically dependent on their partners who are less likely to suggest condom use to their partners. Gender power imbalance also influences men's inclination towards refusing to use the suggested condom. The study showed that men are more likely to refuse to use the condom when the age difference between them and their female partners is wide, if they are in a married relationship, and where there is no communication about HIV/AIDS between them and their partners. What is more disturbing is the finding that it is men with multiple partners who are significantly more likely to refuse to use the condom.

Conclusion: Across all levels of society, there is a need to see a social paradigm shift that transforms relationships between women and men, from the one of inequality and dominance as is the case in patriarchal societies, to equality, respect and consideration for one another.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Bar chart showing percent distribution of women who did not suggest condom use and reasons for not suggesting condom
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Gupta GR. Gender, sexuality, and HIV/AIDS: The what, the why, and the how; Plenary address at X111 International AIDS Conference; July 9–14. 2000; Durban, South Africa.
    1. Varga CA. Sexual decision-making and negotiation in the midst of AIDS: Youth in KwaZulu/Natal, South Africa. Health Transition Review. 1997;7(3):45–67.
    1. Schapera I. A Handbook of Tswana Law and Custom. London: CASS library of African law; 1977.
    1. Sinclair D. Understanding Wife Assault. Toronto: Ontario Government Publication; 1985.
    1. Loring MT. Stories from the Heart: Case studies of Emotional Abuse. Netherlands: Harwood Academic Publishers; 1997.

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources