Women empowerment to negotiate safer sex: Findings from Burkina Faso 2010 Demographic Health Survey

Details

Supervisors

Samadoulougou, Sékou Ouindpanga ; Kirakoya, Fati

Faculty

Faculté de santé publique

Degree label

Master [120] en sciences de la santé publique

Abstract

Introduction: HIV is still a worldwide health issue but more especially amongst young women and married women in Sub-Saharan Africa. Women with greater empowerment have higher HIV-related knowledge and condom use. Lack of safer sex negotiation may lead to an increase in HIV infection. The aim of this research is to evaluate the association between married women’s empowerment and their ability to negotiate safer sex practices in Burkina Faso. We hypothesized that women’s empowerment influences safer sex behaviour. Methods: The 2010 Burkina Faso DHS datasets were used. The data was collected by a two- stage stratified cluster sampling and face-to-face interviews. This study involved 12,502 married women between the ages of 15 and 49. Safer sex negotiation was measured by women’s ability to refuse sexual intercourse and women’s ability to ask their husband for condom use. Women’s empowerment was measured using two dimensions: decision-making participation and attitude towards wife beating. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between women’s empowerment and safer sex negotiation. Results: In Burkina Faso, participation in decision-making is relatively weak but the majority of women believe that a husband is not justified in beating his wife if she refuses to have sexual intercourse. Concerning safer sex negotiation, 47% of married women admitted they could not refuse sexual intercourse with their husband and 62.9% of them could not ask their husband to use a condom. Women with more empowerment in decision-making (more specifically decisions related to household purchases) were more able to negotiate safer sex practices globally. Women with more empowerment regarding wife beating were more prone to ask for a condom. Women’s education, general media exposure, religion and salary type appeared to influence both outcomes. Conclusion: The results point out the importance of women’s empowerment on safer sex negotiation. These findings highlight the need in Burkina Faso for initiatives to improve women’s empowerment for ending the HIV epidemic but also to increase global health.