In Malawi, every boyfriend is a "sugar daddy" - in fact, regularly supplying one's "chibwenzi," or "friend/sexual partner," with money is not a form of prostitution but a normal and expected behavior in premarital Malawian sexual relationships.
Michelle Poulin, a postdoctoral fellow in the Population Studies Center at Penn, spoke yesterday about dating and marriage in the midst of the AIDS epidemic in Africa in the McNeil Building.
Poulin conducted a recent study in the Balaka district of Malawi exploring the relationship between marriage and HIV in Africa, concluding that monetary transfers in sexual partnerships are normal and don't reflect the society's level of prostitution. Additionally, in a society with such a prevalence of HIV, marriage does not necessarily offer protection against the virus.
Poulin argued that the conception of "transactional sex" in this circumstance is "incomplete and misinterpreted." Monetary transactions do not translate into "paying for sex" but rather represent a man's love and commitment to his partner. Gifts given by men typically include money (100 kwacha, or little over a dollar) with which women buy soap or biscuits.
Grace, a 16-year-old woman that was interviewed by Poulin, said that her boyfriend gave her money because "he loved her a lot," and Abdul, a 18-year-old man, said he gave his girlfriend money "to show her that he was a man of real love."
Further qualitative studies demonstrated that, although nearly all men and most women form some type of sexual partnership before marriage, the population was ambivalent as to whether marriage offers protection from HIV.
The fear of AIDS is a widespread concern in Malawi and is reflected in what people desire in a partner. Poulin said the top three characteristics desired in a spouse were to be "educated," "HIV negative" and "faithful."
Both sexes were divided as to whether marriage really offered protection, Poulin added.
According to her data, women's perceived risk of being infected rises as they approach and enter marriage, which matches their actual risk.
7.4 percent of married women are likely to have HIV, compared to only 1.3 percent of unmarried women. HIV prevalence in men was similar for married (1.8 percent) and unmarried (1.5 percent). It was unclear why this was the case, but Poulin suggested it may have to do with the number of partners a man has before marriage.
Poulin's speech was part of the Population Studies Center Spring 2007 Colloquium Series.
Audience members declined to comment on the presentation.
