| dc.description.abstract | This study was about vulnerability and sexual decision making in the context of HIV/AIDS among women with disabilities in Busitema Sub County. The individuals who live with disabilities are among the poorest, least educated and most marginalized of all the world's peoples. Such humiliating factors render them to be a vulnerable group. Women with disabilities are more vulnerable especially when it comes to the sexual decision-making. They seem to be marginalized with limited participation in sexual decisions making, and incidences of rape and other forms of sexual assault are common insults that puts them at high risk of HIV/AIDS infection. It is in view of the above problems that a sample of 80 women with disabilities was interviewed to find out the factors that affect sexual decision making among women with disabilities. This sample was purposively selected. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. Semi structured questionnaires and interview guides were the main instruments used in gathering information. The findings of the study showed that the social-demographic characteristics (poverty, family background, low education levels), gender and disability, play a big role leading to the general exploitation and sexual harassment of women with disabilities hence vulnerability. The study also found out that these factors further determined the HIV/AIDS knowledge of WWDs, participation in sexual decision-making and their entire sexual lives (child bearing and spacing, reproductive health, access to HIV information, e.t.c.) in their households. Findings revealed that the respondents under study had considerable knowledge on the common HIV/AIDS preventive measures (abstinence, faithfulness and condom use. The study also established that respondents used either one or two of the preventive strategies, About Sexual decision-making, the study established that WWDs partially participated in making sexual decisions with their spouses. Some of the issues they shared decisions on include child spacing/family planning, condom use, faithfulness as well as abstinence. Condoms use was as a result of decisions made either by both wife and partner/boyfriend or partners alone and not the wives alone as decision makers. Faithfulness was commonly used by both women with disabilities and their partners. Married women with disabilities also often used faithfulness as one HIV preventive measure as well as preventing pregnancies. Abstinence was found to be commonly used by the single, widowed and separated WWDs. The major reason for using this abstinence was that it offers 100% security from HIV infection. STDs and unwanted pregnancies. It’s therefore recommended that the social economic status of women with disabilities needs to enhanced to avert their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. The mechanisms to address their needs vary greatly, these include: sensitization campaigns about HIV/AIDS targeting WWDs, social and monetary support through enhancement of their income generating activities, dissemination of information to the communities and other stakeholders to bring forward the challenge of vulnerability to HIV/AIDS by WWDs, and further advocating for the prevention of the disease by encouraging safer sex practices such as condom use, monogamy. faithfulness and reservation of sex until marriage. It is equally recommended that emphasis be put on subtle aspects of sexuality that affect sexual behavior for instance sexual negotiation and decision-making among WWDs while developing mechanisms for dealing with HIV/AIDS and sexual decision-making among WWDs. | en_US |
