Traditional practices hamper female condom uptake

Lazarus Sauti

Merilyn Moyo, 25 (not her real name) from Nyikadzino Village under Chief Chundu in Gokwe does not have leverage in negotiating for the use of a female condom, a barrier device intended to protect women from contracting sexually transmitted infections, in her relationship due to socio-cultural inequalities within sexual relationships and marriages in Zimbabwe.

“When it comes to female or even male condom use, I do not have power to say anything. I wait for my husband to initiate as well as approve which protection method to use,” she said recently.

Patriarchy and male domination, without doubt, impact women’s capacity to make sexual and reproductive decisions.

Like Moyo, most women in the country leave the responsibility of wearing protection during sex to their husbands or partners, and this is contributing to the low uptake of female condoms.

Evince Mugumbate, information officer of the Women and Aids Support Network (WASN) agrees: “In our culture, women cannot initiate relationships or instigate the use of condoms as it may be misinterpreted as having extra-marital affairs.

“Remember, traditionally condoms are perceived as tools of infidelity. As a result, women are not empowered to negotiate for safer sex particularly the use of the female condom.”

Essau Souza, who works with youths in sexual reproductive health issues in Mashonaland West province, added that males have a say over sex issues, and this is fueling the imbalances between the consumption of male and female condoms. “Men are traditionally expected to initiate sex and thereby dictate the terms upon which it is done,” he asserted.

Souza goes on to say: “Some men are not comfortable with leaving their seed (sperm) in a female condom which the woman will have to dispose anyhow.

“Fear abounds that some women may use the seed for some other purposes which may in turn have adverse sexual health effects for the male. The male condom, thus, allow males to be in control of the use and the subsequent disposal.”

Joyce Svodai Zinyimo, facilitator of the Yamuranai AIDS Support Group in Gokwe South, said gender stereotypes are also decreasing the uptake of female condoms in her rural area.

“Culturally, anything associated with women is considered inferior. Therefore, women vulnerability to HIV infection is increased by such gender stereotypes which reduce the influence women have in negotiating protection with their sexual partners,” she noted.

The inequality on the uptake of male and female condoms, as noted by the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) that more than 77 million male condoms and 3.6 million female condoms were distributed last year, is also compromising women’s prevention methods and exposing them to new HIV infections.

According to the National AIDS Council (NAC), the rate of new HIV infection in the country currently stands at 70 000 per year.

Accordingly, head of Communication and Knowledge Management for Southern Africa HIV and Aids Information Dissemination Service (SAFAIDS), Tariro Makanga, encourages women support organisations to continuously lobby for the uptake of female condoms so as to protect themselves against new HIV infections as well as Aids.

“Support organisations working with women should constantly advocate for the acceptance and use of female condoms among men and women.

“This will increase the uptake as well as protect women from unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections and HIV,” she said.

Sharing same views, Mugumbate said there is a serious need to eradicate cultural practices that inhibit the uptake of female condoms. This move, she believes, requires extensive civic education in order for Zimbabweans to understand the great benefits attached to female condom use.

Tariro Tandi, a gender expert, is of the view that adopting foras where people have to gather and openly discuss about sex and sexuality can demystify grey areas surrounding the female condom and the issue of control in sex.

She, therefore, urges all stakeholders to continuously raise awareness around female condoms for people to appreciate it more.

“Awareness of female condoms should take account of women in rural areas, and awareness campaigns should target rural leadership structures like chiefs, village heads and local political leaders since they are believed to have influence on their people,” she advices.

Frankly, men should be conscientised to accept the female condom, understand everything about it especially how it works, how it is inserted and justification for its size if the country is to mainstream the issue of gender, eradicate traditional practices that harm the development of women as well as empower people like Moyo in sex and sexuality issues.