Access to resources
Access of women to resources (eg. land, cash, savings) is very limited and the decision making powers over what to do with the money generated from food sales, animal sales, savings and other items lies mainly with the men in the family. It is known from various studies that the limited access to resources contributes to an increased vulnerable position of women. As a consequence a substantial number of women may be inclined to engage in unsafe sexual practices.
§ Access to education
Access to educational opportunities is still very unequal for men and women in Karagwe district. Families are inclined to send the sons for further secondary education if the financial resources are not sufficient to educate all the children in one family. Apart from financial reasons there is always the fear that a girl will become pregnant. Another reason might be that a daughter may be married to other families after completion of the studies, and as a consequence will contribute little to the development of the parents’ family. Hence it is still considered by many to be a waste of funds to educate the girls beyond Primary school level. However it is a well-known fact that a higher educational level will delay the first sexual contact and contributes to reduced risk of HIV transmission.
§ Inheritance
According to the customs in Karagwe district the first son of the first wife will inherit the land, the shamba and the house. A daughter can only inherit the clothes of her mother. The fact that a girl can not inherit any substantial property is because the property of a clan cannot be transferred to another clan. Since girls will marry into another clan she can not inherit from her family. At the same time inheritance patterns also restrict the inheritance for widows. A widow depends on the decision of her husband’s family. His family can allow her to utilize the property of her late husband. However if she will remarry the property will be transferred to the family of her new husband. Therefore widows are often in an extremely vulnerable position after the death of a husband.
§ Importance of virginity
Many parents still believe that a woman must remain a virgin until she is married to a man and that the man must remain a virgin until he is legally married. Virginity at the wedding is greatly respected. Virginity symbolizes purity not only of the body but also for the moral life. A virgin wife is considered as the greatest glory and crown to her parents, husband and relatives since it promise faithfulness during married life. Because of the strict moral code, mothers are expected to be alert about the behavior of their daughters. In the past girls were examined for physical virginity and praised for not allowing sexual intercourse before marriage.
§ Abortion and bride wealth
Pre marital intercourse was condemned especially if the girl had become pregnant. In the past an illegitimately child could not be accepted in the community. The illegitimately pregnant women was either killed or banished to a remote part of the country where she was not known. Another alternative was to negotiate a marriage with the man who made her pregnant. Whenever mothers discovered that their daughters had become pregnant at early stages, they could secretly arrange for an (often unsafe conducted) abortion. This was done for the sake of the image of the girl, her parents and relatives. It is a well-known fact that abortions still take place. However an abortion can lead to increased risk of HIV transmission or infertility of the girl. The importance of the virginity of the girl and preventing a pre-marital pregnancy is also strongly related to the culture of arranging the bride wealth. It is customary that the parents of the bride negotiate for a bride price before they can give away their daughter. The bride wealth is considered as a guarantee to secure the marriage and as an extra income to the parents of the girl. The fear to loose the bride wealth however can lead to (unsafe) abortion practices.
§ Period of pregnancy and child birth
It was a cultural belief that sexual intercourse was not allowed during the pregnancy especially during the late stage since this could lead to miscarriage or obstructed labor. If this cultural belief still exists, it could contribute to extra-marital relationships if it is found that the period of abstinence is difficult to maintain.
§ Sex of first born
The importance of the belief that the first-born child should be a son should not be neglected since it is an aspect that can lead to unsafe sexual practices. The belief is that if the first-born child is a son it proofs that the semen of the men is of high quality. The man can consider himself as a fit and able man. Furthermore sons will continue the family via the patrilineal line. If a woman only gives birth to girls, the husband may start with polygamous relationships in the hope that he will get sons from other wives. It is the belief that the birth of sons in the family is a guarantee for a monogamous relationship.