An exploratory study on the perceptions of Zimbabwean women activists regarding the Domestic Violence Act (2007)

Includes bibliographical references.The overall aim of the study was to explore the perceptions of Zimbabwe women activists regarding the Domestic Violence Act (2007) in that country. The study surveyed fourteen women activists in Zimbabwe to determine their perceptions on the strengths and weaknesses of the Act, the challenges of implementing the Act, and lastly, their recommendations with regard to the amendments, if any, that they would want to see made to the Act. The respondents comprised women who worked for organisations that advocated and lobbied for the rights of women in Zimbabwe. The research design was qualitative, and a purposive sampling technique was employed to recruit the respondents. In-depth face-to-face interviews were used to gather data for the study. Most of the respondents who were interviewed were lawyers, although there were also a significant number of social workers and a teacher. The study established that the Act had both strengths and weaknesses. The most significant strengths of the Act was the criminalisation of domestic violence in Zimbabwe. This therefore meant that the problem of domestic violence was now receiving much needed attention from the state and its law enforcement agents. Another strength of the Act was the fact that the definition of domestic violence was expanded to include other cultural practices that violate the rights of women. These included such practices as forced virginity tests and forced marriages, as well as the pledging of the girl child as a form of payment, practices which hitherto were not classified as criminal offences

Multilayered Stigma and Vulnerabilities for HIV Infection and Transmission: A Qualitative Study on Male Sex Workers in Zimbabwe

Male sex workers are marginalized in most societies due to intersectional stigma between prostitution and homosexuality. In Zimbabwe, a proliferation of male sex workers in major cities such as Harare and Bulawayo has been reported. However, there is a shortage of studies that explore their lives. The current qualitative study aims to describe the practices of sex work, life contexts, and HIV risks and vulnerabilities based on in-depth interviews among 15 male sex workers in Bulawayo. Our studies suggest that the stigma against male sex workers comes from diverse sectors including culture (“homosexuality is un-African, introduced by the Whites”), religion (“same sex is a sin before the God”), law and police (“homosexuality is illegal in Zimbabwe. Engaging in it can send one to prison”), media (“the media is hostile to sex workers particularly men as we are regarded as abnormal and unclean”), and their family (“should they get to know about it, they will disown me”). In this context, male sex workers were excluded from national HIV prevention and treatment programs. They had limited knowledge and many misconceptions about HIV. The stigma and discrimination from health-care providers also discouraged them from health seeking or HIV testing. The nondisclosure to female partners of convenience and sexual relations further increased their vulnerabilities to HIV infection and transmission. Current efforts to address the HIV epidemic should pay attention to male sex workers and tackle the intersecting stigma issues. male sex workers need support and tailored HIV prevention and treatment services to improve their HIV prevention practices, health, and well-being

Access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care services during COVID-19 by men who have sex with men in Zimbabwe, An interpretive phenomenological analysis study.

BackgroundKey populations are disproportionately affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) but have less access to HIV prevention and treatment services. The Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is reinforcing health inequities among vulnerable populations, including men who have sex with men (MSM). Therefore, this article presents the findings describing the experiences of MSM in accessing HIV services during COVID-19 in the second largest city of Zimbabwe.MethodsAn interpretative phenomenological analysis design was applied to gain some insights regarding the lived experiences of MSM in accessing HIV prevention, treatment, and care services during COVID-19 lockdowns era in Zimbabwe. Data were collected from 14 criterion purposively selected MSM using in-depth, one-on-one interviews. Data were analysed thematically guided by the interpretative phenomenological analysis framework for data analysis.ResultsThe findings demonstrated that during the COVID -19 lockdowns in Zimbabwe, MSM faced several barriers as they tried to access HIV services. Some of the barriers included the need for travel authorisation letters and treatment interruption. The study also found that COVID-19 and related restrictive measures had psychosocial and economic effects that encompassed loss of income, intimate partner violence and psychological effects.ConclusionsLimited access to healthcare services by MSM due to COVID-19 lockdown may negatively affect the viral suppression and fuel the spread of HIV, which may reverse the gains toward the control of HIV epidemic. To sustain the gains toward HIV epidemic control and to ensure continuity of treatment, particularly for members of key populations, it is critical that the health-care delivery system adjusts by taking service to the community through adopting a differentiated service delivery approach