Factors associated with failure to negotiate for safe sex among married and cohabiting women in Uganda

Abstract

The study aimed at identifying the factors associated with failure to negotiate for safe sex among married and cohabiting women in Uganda. The study also determined the effect of socioeconomic, behavioral, and demographic factors on negotiation for safe sex among married and cohabiting women. Many hypotheses were set in order to make conclusions which were related to specific objectives. Data obtained was filtered and sorted accordingly. It was then analyzed at three levels. Univariate for percentage distribution of study variables, bivariate for showing the association between negotiation for safe sex among married and cohabiting women and the selected independent variables and multivariate analysis for determining the factors determining negotiation for safe sex among married and cohabiting women. Study findings indicated that age, wealth index, education level, religion, alcohol consumption, and respondents being ever forced into unwanted sexual acts were found to be associated with failure to negotiate for safe sex among married and cohabiting women. The determinants of failure to negotiate for safe sex among married and cohabiting women were identified as wealth index, education level, employment status, and respondent ever been forced into unwanted sex. Therefore, the researcher recommends that women should freely talk to their partners about sex safe, practicing placing condoms on objects and if necessary, placing one on the partner without speaking; being honest with the partner about sex, love, and fidelity; and remembering that protection from condoms is mutual given that it is not possible to know who is infected. Greater societal awareness of the problem and improvements in the opportunities for women to exercise their basic rights will be needed to ensure all women have the power to protect their own health.