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Sexual practices, identities and health among women who have sex with women in Lesotho - a mixed-methods study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Poteat, T; Logie, C; Adams, D; Lebona, J; Letsie, P; Beyrer, C; Baral, S
Published in: Cult Health Sex
2014

Despite the high prevalence of HIV and STIs among women in Africa and the growing literature on HIV and STIs among women who have sex with women, research on the sexual health of women who have sex with women in Africa is scant. This study used mixed methods to describe sexual identity, practices and health among women who have sex with women in Lesotho. Most respondents (48%) described themselves as lesbian, 29% as bisexual and 23% as heterosexual. Almost half (45%) had disclosed their same-sex attraction to family, but only 25% had done so with healthcare workers. A total of 8% reported having HIV. Self-reported HIV was associated with having three or more male partners, having male and female partners at the same time and having a history of STIs. Gender norms, the criminalisation of homosexuality, varied knowledge of, and access to, safer-sex strategies, and mixed experiences of HIV/STI testing and sexual healthcare provided social and structural contexts for HIV- and STI-related vulnerability.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Cult Health Sex

DOI

EISSN

1464-5351

Publication Date

2014

Volume

16

Issue

2

Start / End Page

120 / 135

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Women
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases
  • Sexual Partners
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Safe Sex
  • Reproductive Health
  • Qualitative Research
  • Public Health
  • Middle Aged
 

Citation

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Poteat, T., Logie, C., Adams, D., Lebona, J., Letsie, P., Beyrer, C., & Baral, S. (2014). Sexual practices, identities and health among women who have sex with women in Lesotho - a mixed-methods study. Cult Health Sex, 16(2), 120–135. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2013.841291
Poteat, Tonia, Carmen Logie, Darrin Adams, Judith Lebona, Puleng Letsie, Chris Beyrer, and Stefan Baral. “Sexual practices, identities and health among women who have sex with women in Lesotho - a mixed-methods study.Cult Health Sex 16, no. 2 (2014): 120–35. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2013.841291.
Poteat T, Logie C, Adams D, Lebona J, Letsie P, Beyrer C, et al. Sexual practices, identities and health among women who have sex with women in Lesotho - a mixed-methods study. Cult Health Sex. 2014;16(2):120–35.
Poteat, Tonia, et al. “Sexual practices, identities and health among women who have sex with women in Lesotho - a mixed-methods study.Cult Health Sex, vol. 16, no. 2, 2014, pp. 120–35. Pubmed, doi:10.1080/13691058.2013.841291.
Poteat T, Logie C, Adams D, Lebona J, Letsie P, Beyrer C, Baral S. Sexual practices, identities and health among women who have sex with women in Lesotho - a mixed-methods study. Cult Health Sex. 2014;16(2):120–135.

Published In

Cult Health Sex

DOI

EISSN

1464-5351

Publication Date

2014

Volume

16

Issue

2

Start / End Page

120 / 135

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Women
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases
  • Sexual Partners
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Safe Sex
  • Reproductive Health
  • Qualitative Research
  • Public Health
  • Middle Aged