A Qualitative Exploration of Religion, Gender Norms, and Sexual Decision-Making within African American Faith-Based Communities

Background This study aims to complement recent research on sexual concurrency in South Africa by providing a deeper understanding of women’s roles and motivations for engaging in and accepting their partners’ concurrency. Our goal is to inform the implementation of more effective interventions that embrace the powerful role that women can play in healthy sexual decision-making in consensual relationships. Methods: We conducted 12 focus groups with male and female students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Drawing on a subset of those focus groups, we examined the gender norms underpinning the apparently widespread acceptance of concurrent sexual partnerships. Our analysis focusses on women’s attitudes and behaviours towards concurrency – from both men’s and women’s perspectives – with a goal of identifying opportunities to engage women as agents of change in sexual partnership patterns in their communities. Results: Our findings indicate that: (1) concurrent sexual partnerships were the norm among male students and increasingly common among female students; (2) material gain and changes in women’s perceptions of their roles and power in relationships were the primary female motives for concurrency; (3) peer pressure, a perceived innate need and a fear of being alone were the primary male motives for concurrency; (4) women often know that their partners are cheating and stay with them because they believe they are the most important partner, for financial reasons, or because they worry they will not find another partner. Conclusions: HIV prevention interventions in populations where concurrency is common would benefit from emphasising women’s role and power in taking greater control of their own sexual decision-making in consensual and nonviolent relationships.

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Development and Evaluation of a Sexual Decision-Making and Social Skills Program: "The Choice is Yours-Preventing HIV/STDs"

Health Education & Behavior ◽

10.1177/109019819702400109 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 87-101 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

John Noell ◽

Dennis Ary ◽

Terry Duncan

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

African American ◽

Risk Behaviors ◽

Unprotected Sex ◽

Interactive Videodisc ◽

Randomized Experiment ◽

Sexual Decision Making ◽

Social Skills Program ◽

Std Risk

A series of interactive videodisc programs designed to reduce HIV/STD risk behaviors was developed and evaluated. Separate programs were developed for each of three race/ethnicities (African American, Hispanic, and Caucasian) at each of two age levels (middle school and high school) using extensive formative procedures. Each program uses scenarios with extensive branching story lines to teach decision-making skills and socially appropriate responses to potentially risky sexual situations. In a randomized experiment with 827 students, significant changes were observed at posttest for the four constructs assessed: (1) belief that sex occurs as a result of decisions (vs. "it just happens"), (2) belief that even a single incident of unprotected sex can result in an STD or pregnancy, (3) intentions and attitudes toward use of condoms, and (4) self-efficacy in remaining abstinent (i.e., avoiding sex). At 30-day follow-up, three of the four measures remained significant.

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A Descriptive Study of Empowerment and Sexual Decision Making in HIV-Positive African-American Women

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.104.2.482-488 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 104 (2) ◽

pp. 482-488 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carrie A. Long ◽

David E. Vance ◽

Lauren A. Antia

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

African American ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

African American Women ◽

Unprotected Sex ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

American Women ◽

Sexual Decision Making ◽

Incarceration History ◽

Sexual Choices

Empowerment, defined as economic opportunity that lessens dependence, is a unique concept that may affect a woman's sexual decision making. In this analysis taken from a larger statewide study, 91 HIV-positive African-American women were administered a survey to assess factors of empowerment in association with sexual choices. Age, incarceration history, and alcohol use were associated with bartering with sex. Incarceration history and alcohol use were associated with having unprotected sex with someone of unknown serostatus.

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