Preference for dry sex, condom use and risk of STI among HIV-negative black women in the Western Cape province, South Africa

  • Priscilla Reddy Health Promotion Research & Development Group, South African Medical Research Council, P.O. Box 19070, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa.
  • Dorina Saleh-Onoya Health Promotion Research & Development Group, South African Medical Research Council, P.O. Box 19070, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa.
  • Sibusiso Sifunda Health Promotion Research & Development Group, South African Medical Research Council, P.O. Box 19070, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa.
  • Delia Lang Department of Behavioral Science and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Grace Crum Rollins Building, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, U.S.A.
  • Gina Wingood Department of Behavioral Science and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Grace Crum Rollins Building, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, U.S.A.
  • Bart van den Borne Department of Health Promotion and Health Education, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
  • Robert Ruiter Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, the Netherlands.

Abstract

The practice of dry sex is reportedly common among young black women in South Africa. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship of women’s preference for dry sex with condom use and the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoea (NG) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) infections. Between January 2006 and December 2007, 446 women completed a behavioural survey in isiXhosa which assessed demographic information, sexual behaviours, condom use behaviour and other potential correlates. In total, 159 (36.72%) women indicated preferring dry sex. A multivariate logistic regression model indicated that participants who preferred dry sex were more likely to report past STI episodes and to have a partner who also preferred dry sex. The findings indicate that dry sex behaviour was not directly associated with condom use and STI (CT, NG, and TV) prevalence but may have been associated with relationships in which sexual preferences of the male partner were dominant.
Published
2010-01-19