Increased heterosexual transmission of HIV among young women and their difficulties with safer sex communication calls for women-focused research. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the meaning and lived experiences of women, as part of larger pre-dissertation pilot on health protective sexual communication among young women in Gaborone, Botswana. Twenty women participated in individual in-depth interviews conducted in Setswana, tape-recorded, transcribed verbatim, translated into English for line by line analysis to extract themes and subthemes.
Six main themes and nine subthemes emerged from the data. Batswana women communicate with their male sexual partners about safer sex but face some difficulties. The AIDS epidemic is taking a toll on women and girls worldwide. Globally the epidemic is increasing rapidly among women than men []. Of the 44 million people living with the infection worldwide, It is also estimated that globally, for every 10 men, 12 - 13 women are infected.
In addition, the problem is more prevalent among young women aged 15 - 25 years who are about three times more likely than young men of their age to be living with HIV. Botswana has a high HIV sero-prevalence of In the absence of a cure the control of the epidemic will have to depend largely on the prevention strategies health protective sexual communication with their male sexual, to enhance risk reduction []. Women can benefit from safer sex communication but the negotiation may encounter barriers, such as gender and cultural norms and role expectations [17].
Partner communication, pertains to the practice of discussing reproductive health risks such as pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections STIs , and negotiateing sex and contraceptive or condom use with sexual partners [18]. Few studies exist explore sexual risk communication [20]. The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning of HPSC among young women aged 18 - 25 years in Gaborone, Botswana, and their experiences while engaging in HPSC with their male sexual partners.
This will inform safer sex interventions and promote HIV prevention behavior. Specific aims of the study were:. The study design was based on a phenomenological methodology in which women were asked to respond to question regarding the meaning of HPSC and their lived experiences as they engaged in HPSC with their male sexual partners. The study was a part of a predissertation qualitative pilot designed to elicit themes to guide item construction for a larger instrument development dissertation research study.
