Condom negotiation: experiences of sexually active young women

There is a changing trend in adolescent girls' sexual and reproductive behaviour in Ghana. However, contemporary perspectives on adolescent girls' sexual behaviours are largely missing hence this study. Thematic analysis of data collected through in-depth interviews with adolescent girls and community members as well as focus group discussions with adolescent boys identified several factors accounting for the changes in adolescent girls' sexual and reproductive behaviour. These factors include changes in girls' attitudes to traditional practices, diversity in the agents of socialization as well as the age at menarche. This has resulted in a clash of value system between girls' sexual behaviours and that of the elderly. Thus, the social context in which girls are experiencing sexual and reproductive life in Ghana is changing and this must be taken into consideration when designing any intervention to help adolescent girls become resilient in their sexual and reproductive lives. Keywords: adolescent girls, sexual behaviour, social change, Ghana RésuméIl existe une tendance à l'évolution des comportements sexuels et de la reproduction chez les adolescentes au Ghana. Cependant, les perspectives contemporaines sur les comportements sexuels des adolescentes sont en grande partie manquantes, d'où cette étude. L'analyse thématique des données recueillies grâce à des entretiens approfondis avec des adolescentes et des membres de la communauté, ainsi que des discussions de groupes cibles avec des garçons adolescents ont identifié plusieurs facteurs qui expliquent les changements dans les comportements sexuels et de la reproduction chez les adolescentes. Ces facteurs incluaient des changements dans l'attitude des filles à l'égard des pratiques traditionnelles, la diversité chez les agents de la socialisation ainsi que l'âge de la ménarche. Cela a entraîné un choc de système de valeurs entre les comportements sexuels des filles et celui des personnes âgées. Ainsi, le contexte social dans lequel les filles connaissent une vie sexuelle et de la reproduction au Ghana évolue et cela doit être pris en compte lors de la conception d'une intervention pour aider les adolescentes à devenir résilientes dans leur vie sexuelle et de la reproduction. (Afr J Reprod Health 2017; 21[2]: 55-63).

Abstract-The high prevalence of HIV-AIDS in Medan NorthSumatra as many as 3,780 cases and there has been a decrease in condom use (86%) to (51.5%) in 2011. In order to determine the cause of the condition it needs to be known description of female sex workers (FWS) behavior in offering condom for customers during sexual intercourse. The aim of this study was to explore in depth information about the behavior of female sex workers in offering a condom for customers during sexual intercouse in Medan Qualitative methods had been used in this study. The research data obtained by conducting indepth interviews to 12 female sex workers and 8 key informants consisting of National AIDS Commission, Department of Health, Office of Women's Empowerment and NGO in Medan, pimps and customers of sex. The results showed that female sex workers' knowledge and attitude about HIV-AIDS and condoms is high. Female sex workers behavior in offering condoms to customers is good but the bargaining power of female sex workers as well as the ability to negotiate in offering condom is non optimal, therefore condom use still inconsistent and low, so that it's required the increasing number of effort of comprehensive condom promotion both to the female sex workers, customers and related parties.

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