Couple Partnership Dynamics and Relationship Satisfaction in Swaziland and Implications for HIV Prevention

HIV;HIV prevention;multiple and concurrent partnerships;sexual behavior;behavior change;social norms;gender norms;qualitative research;Swaziland;Africa;Social & Behavioral Interventions

Ruark, Allison MarieMosley, W. Henry ;

Johns Hopkins University

关键词: HIV;    HIV prevention;    multiple and concurrent partnerships;    sexual behavior;    behavior change;    social norms;    gender norms;    qualitative research;    Swaziland;    Africa;    Social & Behavioral Interventions;   

Others  :  https://jscholarship.library.jhu.edu/bitstream/handle/1774.2/39343/RUARK-DISSERTATION-2015.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

瑞士|英语

来源: JOHNS HOPKINS DSpace Repository

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe dynamics and quality of a person’s sexual relationships are critical influencers of his or her mental, emotional, and physical health. Men and women in Swaziland who are engaged in multiple or concurrent sexual partnerships, or who have sexual partners with concurrent partners, face a very high risk of HIV infection. Relationship quality and satisfaction may impact sexual behaviors and partnership dynamics which in turn affect HIV risk.MethodsWe conducted 117 in-depth interviews with 14 Swazi men and 14 Swazi women between the ages of 20 and 39 (three to five interviews with each participant), in order to explore participants’ sexual partnership histories, motivations in sexual partnerships, and relationship quality and satisfaction, using a life-course approach. Thirteen men and 20 women discussed the quality of sexual relationships in Swaziland in four single-gender focus group discussions. In addition, we conducted 31 in-depth interviews with 17 marriage counselors and 12 men and women who had been counseled by marriage counselors to address the goals and experience of marriage counseling, including themes of relationship satisfaction and quality. FindingsParticipants reported that concurrent sexual partnerships were normative and described them as being motivated by love, a lack of sexual satisfaction, a desire for emotional support, and as a means to exact revenge against a cheating partner. Participants identified love, respect, honesty, trust, communication, sexual satisfaction, and sexual faithfulness as the most important characteristics of good couple relationships, while admitting threats to the quality of their relationships, particularly in the areas of trust, honesty, and sexual faithfulness. Most participants reported that they were satisfied with their relationships. A life-course perspective revealed how social learning and life experiences, beginning in childhood, have influenced participants’ later sexual behaviors and health risks. ConclusionParticipants’ narratives disclosed significant sources and circumstances of risk, as well as positive social ideals which may provide opportunities for effective HIV prevention. Similarities between the aspects of good relationships described in this research and dimensions of relationship quality identified in other sociocultural contexts suggest that certain aspects of couple relationships may be shared across cultures.