AIDSImpact.com:: - Santa Fe, USA 2011

Abstract #61 - Women’s views on and experiences of condom use: An exploration of how this impacts on women’s sexual satisfaction and male condom use among women.
Authors: Presenting Author: Mrs Vuyelwa Mehlomakulu - Human Sciences Research Council
Additional Authors: Prof. Diane Cooper, Ms. Daniella Mark, Dr. Jennifer Pitt,
Aim: The aim of this study was to examine factors which impact on male condom use and particularly how women’s sexual satisfaction could influence their willingness to use male condoms in protecting themselves from HIV infection.
Method / Issue: This qualitative study was conducted amongst 25 women between the ages of 18-36 years, living in Masiphumelele, in the Western Cape. In-depth interviews were conducted with women irrespective of their HIV status, to obtain their views and experiences on male condom use, in particular with respect to male condoms’ impact on women’s sexual satisfaction. Purposive sampling was used in recruiting women for the study.
Results / Comments: Findings indicated that women felt that it was important to use condoms during sexual intercourse in order to obtain protection against HIV, STIs and pregnancy. Though the importance of condom use during sexual intercourse was acknowledged, as found elsewhere, this did not necessarily translate to consistent condom use. Just over half of these women reported condom use at last sexual intercourse. Women’s own sexual dissatisfaction was regarded as one of the main reasons why condoms were not consistently used by women. Some women reported that they do not reach orgasm when they used condoms, so this hindered their sexual satisfaction.
Discussion: The results of this study suggest that while it is important for HIV/AIDS interventions to focus on gender-based related issues such as gender power relations, women’s negotiation skills on condom use, it is also important to better understand a less investigated issue of women’s own possible resistance to male condom use. The interventions need to include addressing women’s own issues on sexual satisfaction and how these can be taken into account in facilitating safer sexual practices.
Go Back