INSECURITY, coupled with and women’s economic dependence on their partners, has also influenced their attitude and ability to suggest taking an HIV test with their partners.
Currently, we do not need numbers to prove that there is a problem with Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) that has continued to be one of the world’s major public health issues.
For young girls coming from vulnerable homes and forced into early marriage, their future is uncertain as they do not know the impact this may bring to their lives.
SGBV, which also affects men and boys, though more prevalent in women and girls, has serious consequences on physical, sexual and reproductive health, as well as mental health.
Human rights activists have also observed that SGBV is a fundamental violation of women’s human rights that has adverse economic and social consequences for men, women, their children, families and communities.
Further, studies show that about 20 per cent of those aged 18 to 24 years reported experiencing sexual violence from an intimate partner.
Zambia is among African countries that have taken a positive approach of bringing together all stakeholders in the development and implementation of programmes to protect and promote the rights of women and girls.
A police report shows how Zambia saw an increase in Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the same period last year.
The country recorded 6,915 cases during the first quarter of 2022, an increase of 2,661 from the 4,154 cases recorded in the same period last year, indicating a 62.5 per cent increase..
From the above figures, 1,769 children were sexually abused, out of which 1,284 were girls and 485 were boys.
Like other African countries facing high cases of sexual violence, women in Zambia also experience a variety of forms of violence, including battery, sexual abuse and exploitation, rape, defilement (child rape) and incest.
To raise awareness on the prevalence of sexual violence among women in Africa, Merck Foundation was recently recognised as the2022 NGO of the Year and the most influential Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Africa whose collective efforts are shaping the continent’s future.
The philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany aims to improve the life of women by working with African first ladies to address different challenges that affect the well being of women and girls in Africa, Dr Rasha Kelej, chiefe executive officer of Merck Foundation, believes that empowering women will rescue them from the risks of sexual violence with their partners as this has shown to be one of the challenges affecting the women.
Phalesi Daka, a Ndola based marriage and psychosocial counselor, observes how partner violence and the fear of abuse prevents girls from refusing sex and endangers their ability to negotiate for safer sex.
Ms Daka said because of traditional roles and practices, women typically have little influence over their lives and their households and very little access to legal protection.
“Till today, some cultural barriers have contributed to women in negotiating for safer sexual encounters as this is only controlled by only one partner during intercourse. In cases of sexual violence, there may be long term health problems, including the possible transmission of HIV and other STIs,” Ms Daka said.
She said needs and desires of women are not considered important and often, women play no part in sexual decision making and are expected not to express their sexuality,” she said.
Ms Daka said the inequality for women and the associated violence and controlling aspects of masculinity that result from patriarchal power imbalances still existing in the African community continues to pose a challenge for women to negotiate for safer sex.
Women who have experienced violence are up to three times more likely to be infected with HIV than those who have not.
Addressing sexual violence against women and girls in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa has been challenging as most interventions focus on the more traditional ways of containing the epidemic, such as condom use, antiretroviral drugs and treatment for STIs.
A random visit at some clinics in Ndola shows clearly how participation of men in HIV testing, antenatal care, family planning and child care services is important if partners, particularly in
developing countries, are to address the issue of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
The engagement of men and boys is critical and has proven effective in SGBV prevention and response, as well as securing better health outcomes for men, women, boys and girls.
Clinical psychologists have observed that in the aftermath of a sexual assault or rape, survivors can face extremely difficult and painful emotions and experiences.
They observe that every survivor responds to traumatic events in their own way and the effects of the trauma can be short term or last long after the sexual assault.
It is from such encounters that health personnel establish that women who have experienced sexual violence are up to three times more likely to be infected with HIV than those who have not.
Ms Daka said a good number of women experiencing sexual violence continue to go on with their lives, participating in normal activities such as taking care of their home.
But they secretly struggle in their relationships.
Others are beaten or forced to have sex with their partners without
any protection even when the partners are HIV positive or have other
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
She said women who go for counseling during antenatal visits in peri-urban areas are more at risk of contracting HIV because of the high illiterate levels compared to their counterparts in urban areas.
However, Ms Daka said sexual decision making in the midst of HIV in partners, the number of children to have and consent to sex, as well as negotiating for safer sex, is determined by men in homes as established from the counseling offered to women during their visits
at the clinic.
In addition, Ms Banda said even among the literate women, there are some who have failed to negotiate for safer sex through condom use as they are insecure about their partners living them.
As a result, they end up being infected with HIV.
“Here, the needs and desires of women are not considered significant and often, women play no part in sexual decision making and neither are they allowed to express their sexuality. It is important that premarital counseling on safer sex in partners be promoted to create as environment where married women can establish equal power relations with their husbands for their own protection,” she said.
With progress being made by African countries in addressing and preventing SGBV, including female genital mutilation (FGM), coupled with male involvement, the future of a sexual gender violent free society looks promising.
Other stake holders also need to intensify programmes aimed at improving women’s sexual health rights towards achieving sustainable development goals and ending and STIs.
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