AEGiS-11IAC: Gender meanings and sexual behavior as key aspects for understanding the negotiation of safer sex practices among heterosexual couples.

11th International AIDS Conference


Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

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Gender meanings and sexual behavior as key aspects for understanding the negotiation of safer sex practices among heterosexual couples.

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:488 (abstract no. Pub.D.1325)
Barbosa RM, Parker RG, Carvalho JA, Uziel AP; University of State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Fax: 5521-2289526. E-mail: reginamb@vmesa.uerj.br.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between sexual behavior and gender meanings in relation to the negotiation of safer sex practices among women in two different urban areas of Brazil.

METHODOLOGY: A qualitative, comparative study was carried out in 1995, between two different regions, Southeast and Northeast, of Brazil, with remarkable cultural, social and economic contrasts. Focus-group discussions, followed by in-depth interviews, were conducted with women, married and unmarried, between 25 and 35 years of age, in each region, focusing on sexual behavior and gender meanings and attitudes as key aspects for understanding the factors that influence women's ability to negotiate HIV preventive behaviors.

RESULTS: Sociocultural beliefs and meanings regarding sexual behavior and gender relations, such as the meanings of love, marriage and infidelity, define the ways and set the limits within which women can develop a range of behaviors regarding their health and protection of physical integrity. Some behaviors, such as the use of condoms for STD/HIV prevention only, is seen as a cultural impossibility for women involved in a steady relationship. Other practices, such as reduction of partners, changes in sexual practices, or the use of condoms for double protection (STD/HIV and pregnancy prevention) varies according to social status, symbolic/gender systems and male/female power relation in both regions.

CONCLUSIONS: AIDS prevention program must emphasize cultural changes in gender meanings and improve ways to empower women to negotiate safer sex practices.

Keywords: AEGIS, Safe Sex, Heterosexuality, Sexuality, Negotiating, Condoms, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Comprehension, Learning, Memory, Brazil, Human, Female, Male, Pregnancy, ICA11KWDaegis,safesex,heterosexuality,sexuality,negotiating,condoms,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,sexuallytransmitteddiseases,comprehension,learning,memory,brazil,human,female,male,pregnancy,ica11

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PubD1325

Copyright © 1996 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.