Understanding cultural attitudes to condoms is of the utmost importance in promoting their use as a means of protection against HIV transmission. This article examines condom use in relation to what people see as the purpose of sex, what good sex entails and how this relates to ideas of being a proper woman or man. It seems that the underlying and pervasive ideal is that sex is essentially a procreative act, since an emphasis on male potency and male and female fertility often overrides anxieties about contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Hence condom use is usually only negotiated within some short-term relationships and then not consistently. Whilst both men and women have negative attitudes to condoms, women because of their economic and ideological dependence on men are in a much weaker position to negotiate condom use.A large commercial farm is the largest employer in Chiawa, a rural chieftaincy in Lusaka Rural Province. The operation recruits annually approximately 2500 seasonal migrant workers. Most of the migrants are young men employed on a temporary basis and living without their spouses in camps. Many migrants have extramarital sexual relations while working in Chiawa. Such behavior has been a major factor in facilitating the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in southern Africa. Using research conducted in Chiawa since 1991, the author examines condom use in relation to what people see as the purpose of sex, what good sex entails, and how that relates to ideas of being a proper man or woman. There is an emphasis among the workers upon male potency and male and female fertility are often more important than worries about contracting HIV and other STDs. Sex is generally perceived to be a procreative act in this culture in which both sexes have negative attitudes toward condoms. Condom use is usually only negotiated within some short-term relationships and then not consistently. The traditional, deep focus upon procreation among the migrants makes it difficult to balance customary ideas with modern lifestyles and needs. For example, people will report rarely using condoms despite a stated desire to avoid pregnancy and STDs.

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Migrant Workers cultural anthropology Obstacles HIV Infections Africa south of the Sahara sexual behavior Human immunodeficiency virus infection population developing country Population Dynamics Research Report human Zambia Developing Countries condom Condoms rural population Barrier Methods fertility rural health Risk Reduction Behavior Risk Behavior health Humans attitude male Sex Behavior female Psychological Factors Behavior Review Contraception Africa Contraceptive Methods Extramarital Sex Behavior Fertility Preferences organization and management Organization And Administration migration Eastern Africa population and population related phenomena Demographic Factors Utilization Review English Speaking Africa Economic Factors Transients and Migrants Population Characteristics Human Resources family planning risk reduction Labor Force Culture