Abstract
The purpose of this study was to discover the motives why certain Mozambican women from high socioeconomic status and with high educational level involve in multiple and concurrent sexual partnerships (MCP). Using convenience sampling method, 28 women living in the two Mozambican main cities (Maputo and Beira) were selected to participate in the study and in-depth interviewed. According the main themes emerged from the participant speeches, it seems that the women of the Mozambican higher society engage in MCP in the framework of power and influence issues that allow them to get help or facilitate the achievement of their business or the development of their professional career. The research also found that one of the reasons for this practice was the lack of sexual pleasure in the marital relationship because their partners do not provide pleasure or give pleasure below their expectations. Another motive for engaging in MCP is a reaction to male domination and male infidelity, a will to transgress the established order and claim a kind of emancipation. Doing that, the participants appear to neglect their biological risk of HIV infection rather to rich their aspirations or maximize their social capital.
Highlights
IntroductionMultiple and concurrent partnerships (MCP) can be described as when an individual has more than one sexual partners at the same period (overlapping partnerships), in contrast with sequential type of sexual relationship.While the people in southern African countries report on average similar numbers of partners over a lifetime as the people in other world regions do (Epstein & Morris, 2011); in general, the prevalence of sexual partnership concurrency is higher in this region than that elsewhere (Wellings et al, 2006).For instance, the mean lifetime number of partners is eight partners for men and four partners for women in USA; 9.3 partners for men and 4.7 partners for women in UK; 11.6 partners for men and 4.4 partners for women in France; three partners for men and women in India, 3.3 partners for men and women in China; six partners for men and 3.8 partners for women in South Africa; eight partners for men and four partners for women in Mozambique (SADC, 2006; Spira & Bajos, 2006; UK Health and Social Care Information Centre, 2012; The Kinsey Institute, 2010; Vera Cruz, 2007)
As for the multiple and concurrent partnerships, for example, in USA, surveys suggest that 11% of men and 12% of women in the general population engaged in partner concurrency in the past year and past five years prior to survey, respectively; in France, 13.3% of men and 5.6% of women had Multiple and concurrent partnerships (MCP) during the preceding inquiry 12 months; in South Africa, 24.7% of men and 4.7% of women had MCP during the year prior to survey; in Mozambique, 28% of inquired men and 13.7% of inquired women had MCP during the year prior to survey (Adimora et al, 2002, 2007; Spira & Bajos, 2006; Steffenson et al, 2011; Tanser et al, 2011; Vera Cruz, 2007)
The low socio-economic level, low schooling and the consequent difficulties in meeting basic needs have been referenced by some authors as a factor catalyst for the involvement of women in multiple and concurrent sexual relationships (Loforte, 2000; Nweti, 2009; Vera Cruz & Mullet, 2012)
Summary
Multiple and concurrent partnerships (MCP) can be described as when an individual has more than one sexual partners at the same period (overlapping partnerships), in contrast with sequential type of sexual relationship.While the people in southern African countries report on average similar numbers of partners over a lifetime as the people in other world regions do (Epstein & Morris, 2011); in general, the prevalence of sexual partnership concurrency is higher in this region than that elsewhere (Wellings et al, 2006).For instance, the mean lifetime number of partners is eight partners for men and four partners for women in USA; 9.3 partners for men and 4.7 partners for women in UK; 11.6 partners for men and 4.4 partners for women in France; three partners for men and women in India, 3.3 partners for men and women in China; six partners for men and 3.8 partners for women in South Africa; eight partners for men and four partners for women in Mozambique (SADC, 2006; Spira & Bajos, 2006; UK Health and Social Care Information Centre, 2012; The Kinsey Institute, 2010; Vera Cruz, 2007). As for the multiple and concurrent partnerships, for example, in USA, surveys suggest that 11% of men and 12% of women in the general population engaged in partner concurrency in the past year and past five years prior to survey, respectively; in France, 13.3% of men and 5.6% of women had MCP during the preceding inquiry 12 months; in South Africa, 24.7% of men and 4.7% of women had MCP during the year prior to survey; in Mozambique, 28% of inquired men and 13.7% of inquired women had MCP during the year prior to survey (Adimora et al, 2002, 2007; Spira & Bajos, 2006; Steffenson et al, 2011; Tanser et al, 2011; Vera Cruz, 2007).
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