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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Julie Pulerwitz, ScD1, Gary T. Barker, PhD2, Marcos Nascimento, MA2, and Fernando Acosta, BA3. (1) Horizons project, PATH, 4301 Connecticut Avenue N.W., Suite 280, Washington DC, DC 20008, (202) 237-9400, jpulerwitz@pcdc.org, (2) Instituto PROMUNDO, Brazil, Rua Francisco Serrador, 2/702-Centro, CEP 20031-060, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, (3) Insituto NOOS, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Background: While there is increasing recognition of the influence of norms that support inequitable gender relations on partner violence and HIV/AIDS risk, few empirical studies have explored these relationships. Methods: A household community survey was administered to a representative sample of 749 men aged 15 – 60 in low income communities in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Data from young men aged 15 – 24 (n=224) were analyzed to test the relationship between agreement with a number of “traditional” gender norms, condom use, and partner violence. Results: Norms surrounding the sexual and social roles of men and women, including agreement with the statements that women’s most important role is to take care of the home, men need more than one sexual partner, it’s a woman’s responsibility to avoid pregnancy, and men should have the final word in household decision-making, were all associated with reports of physical abuse of partners and lack of condom use (p <.05). Norms about partner violence, including the statement that women should tolerate violence to keep the family together, were also associated with partner abuse (p < .05). Conclusions: There is a strong association between various “traditional” gender norms, and partner violence and condom use amongst this population of young men in Brazil. This study provides empirical support for the notion that intervention activities to promote gender-equitable norms would be important when attempting to influence HIV risk and partner violence.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Gender, HIV Risk Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.