Cultural Determinants of Sexual Risk Behavior for AIDS among Baganda Women

Abstract

Sixty‐five Baganda women who tested positive for the HIV antibody and 65 who tested negative (mean age = 21 years) in Kampala, Uganda, were interviewed about cultural rules and norms for sexual behavior and HIV‐specific risk behaviors. Traditional Baganda rules for sexual behavior prohibit sex for women outside of marriage except in certain ritual circumstances (e.g., after the birth of twins, at funerals and weddings) or economic circumstances, although males may have multiple partners. Women in this study are complying with risk reduction advice to “stick to one partner.” Fear of AIDS remains high, however, because women fear that their partners have not reduced their sexual contacts. While the potential for risk reduction is high for the women, cultural norms permitting males to have multiple partners limit women's ability to reduce risk by modifying their own behavior.