Citation

Watts CH, Keogh E, Ndlovu M, Kwaramba R. Reprod. Health Matters 1998; 6(12): 57-65.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S0968-8080(98)90008-8

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Between 1995 and 1997, the Musasa Project in Harare conducted research to document the magnitude and health consequences of violence against women by their sexual partner in Zimbabwe. An unforeseen issue that emerged was the extent that women's husbands/regular partners not only forced them to have sex (25 per cent), but would also sometimes stop having sex with them (17 per cent). Both forms of coercion could be used by men as a means of punishing or controlling their partners. Men who threatened or who were physically violent towards their partners were more likely to force sex and/or withdraw sex than those who were not violent. The withdrawal of sex was associated with potentially important changes in the relationship -- including separation, the partner taking another wife or getting a girlfriend - and to force their wives to accept this new situation. Forced sex was more likely to occur in contexts where the woman may have felt she had the right to refuse sex, e.g. when her partner had a girlfriend. On the other hand, some men stopped sex to protect their wives from sexually transmitted infections. Withdrawal of sex was interpreted by women as a sign that the relationship might be ending, which represented not only a loss oflove but possibly also a loss of economic security and her children. Future research on violence and sexuality needs to explore not only forced sex but also the withdrawal of sex within relationships.