Male sexual values and behaviour with risk of exposure to HIV infection.
Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:489 (abstract no. Pub.D.1329) Ray CS, Mbizvo M, Katzenstein D; Zimbabwe AIDS Prevention Project, University of Zimbabwe Medical School (ZAPP-UZ). Fax: 44 1785 250684.
Recent calls have been made for men to become the focus and priority in HIV/AIDS research and education, to study male perceptions of risk, and behaviour which exposes them to infection. The authors argue that education efforts have been aimed at men in Africa, but qualitative research which identifies those perceptions has been missing.Studies in Southern Africa have shown that men who have ever used condoms are more likely to be HIV-positive, than those who never used them. These men are often unaware of their serostatus. The decision to use condoms represents correct recognition of those with high risk behaviour who are thereby trying to protect themselves. Condom use is often inconsistent and selective. Men are also more likely to use condoms in casual relationships than with wives. Even when women have tried to change their behaviour to avoid infection they are still at risk through their partners behaviour.It should not be assumed that general education programmes (leaflets, posters etc.) will be sufficient to encourage men to protect their partners. The challenge to health promoters is to find ways of influencing male behaviour to become more responsible. Men who are aware of their risks have to take responsibility to prevent further transmission to their partners, whether casual or otherwise. The authors discuss work done that shows that men have expressed keen interest in learning more about protecting themselves and their partners if done in an accessible but scientific way. Peer education programmes which are intensive and tackle sexual issues in a focused way may prove to be more effective.
Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Infections, Condoms, Risk, Risk-Taking, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Africa, Southern, Africa, Human, Male, Female, ICA11
