The meaning, lived experiences and intentions for safer sex communication among young Batswana women in dyadic relationships

Mabel K. M. Magowe

School of Nursing, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.

DOI: 10.4236/ojn.2012.23040                

Abstract

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. This was a study conducted in two Gaborone City Council MCH clinics. 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. The main themes were: the meaning of HPSC, responsibility for HPSC, HPSC content, facilitating factors, partner’s response. Batswana women communicate with their male sexual partners about safer sex but face some difficulties. Further quantitative research can further explore women’s experiences with safer sex communication.

Keywords

Lived Experiences; Safer Sex Communication; HIV Prevention

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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