Resourced and underresourced women-who-have sex-with-women (WSW) aged 18-40 2007/8

D. van Dyk, J. Livingston

This Needs Assessment was a first step in exploring determinants of casual sexual risk-taking among resourced and under-resourced women-having-sex-with-women in Tshwane. Three broad areas were explored, i.e. biographical data, views of health problems and solutions and lastly, sexual behaviour and the determinants thereof. It became clear that HIV, STIs and alcohol abuse are seen as serious health problems confronting WSW. The ambiguity around risk perception is detrimental to the health and well-being of WSW as a whole. Casual sex seems to be occurring often, where motivating and de-motivating factors are mediated by the type of venue and substances used. There seem to be no regular testing for STIs or HIV, no consistent use of barrier methods during casual sexual encounters, there is no negotiated safety or barrier use in steady relationships and casual encounters, and where monogamy is claimed but not carried out, codes are used and a high level of secrecy surrounds the casual encounters taking place within friendship circles. It is clear that this situates these WSW as being at risk of contracting and transmitting an STI or HIV. An intervention is needed to deal developing problem. No group has been more abandoned within STI and HIV programming than same-sex practicing women. A more complete and thorough understanding of the complexities of the lives of same-sex practicing women and the nature of their HIV-related risk is necessary. Women need to be trained about their risks and health care providers need to be sensitized on the specific health and HIV prevention needs of lesbians and other women-who-have-sex-with-women.