Attitude towards sexual control among women in conjugal union and its implication for HIV infection in Mahikeng, South Africa

There is evidence that husbands pose the greatest risk of infecting their wives with STIs and HIV in Africa. The main purpose of this paper is to assess the attitude towards sexual control among married women. Factors influencing the sexual control of these women are also investigated. A survey was recently carried out in Mahikeng, South Africa. A total of 568 married or cohabiting women aged 18-49 years took part in the survey. The survey collected two dependent variables based on the questions can women demand for sex? and can women reject sexual intercourse? The logistic regression analysis was used. 81% of respondents reported that a married woman can demand sex from her husband. However, a significant proportion of married women (41%) do not approve that married women can reject sexual intercourse with their husband under any circumstances. This group of women needs serious consideration in terms of policy. Whilst variables that are significantly related with rejecting sex include age, nature of union, education, occupation, and number of living children, only age and nature of union were related to demand for sex. Women empowerment initiatives should be considered as a means to curb HIV/AIDS in this society.