Beliefs about Gender Equality Predict Multiple Concurrent Sexual Partnerships

Posted on the Aidsmap website, this summary highlights findings presented at the Fourth South African AIDS Conference (March 31 - April 3 2009). Research carried out in Rustenburg, South Africa, revealed that beliefs about gender equality are strongly predictive of multiple concurrent partnerships (MCP) and HIV risk behaviours in South Africa. According to this summary, these findings suggest that better prevention of HIV could be achieved with education campaigns that promote ideas of gender equality to men, and more frequent condom use to women.

Specifically, scientists at the Aurum Institute For Health Research examined the 2001 census and randomly sampled 16 of 154 areas in Rustenburg, South Africa. Fieldworkers then superimposed the population distribution onto a satellite map and performed interviews with people in 512 randomly chosen houses. Of the 351 people sampled, 59.8% were female and 84.9% black. Seventy-three percent were sexually active and, of these, 9.7% reported having more than one sexual partner. Only 56.1% of those surveyed reported using condoms (the definition of condom use included all those who had used a condom once or more during the previous 3 months).

Men believing in greater gender equality were more likely [odds ratio (OR) 95%, confidence interval (CI): 0.30 (0.13 to 0.68)] to be monogamous while, paradoxically, women of the same belief were more likely to have multiple concurrent partners [OR 95%, CI: 0.30 (0.13 to 0.68)]. In short, men appear to be protected by believing in equality, while women are at heightened risk.

The researchers call for more resources to be directed at gender equality campaigns and for women to be more actively encouraged to use condoms.