Male goat (cabra macho) and "weak meat": ethnographically-informed HIV-risk reduction messages for Brazilian women.

This chapter describes a study to: 1) identify influential cultural patterns and gender roles regarding sexuality in northeast (nordestino) Brazil; 2) examine high risk attitudes and behavior of couples as well as structural forces that favor (and inhibit) HIV transmission; and 3) identify popular information sources and lay consultants sought by nordestino women. An ethnographic description of nordestino married or cohabiting couples was generated and analyzed. Overall it was found that sexually-transmitted HIV infection rates are rising sharply among married or cohabiting women. This finding suggests that religious vows of marital fidelity are not sufficient protection from contamination. There are other factors often structural that favor HIV transmission. These include: 1) culturally prescribed gender roles 2) paradigms of male dominance or machismo 3) the sexual double standard 4) womens economic vulnerability and social submission in patriarchal households 5) womens avoidance of confrontation and 6) avoidance strategies to preserve marital/familial institutions. Based on these findings the authors created 15 HIV risk reduction messages aimed at nordestino couples of various socioeconomic backgrounds. They conclude that the messages may be outweighed by culture and they recommend broader social economic and political interventions to empower women raise mens awareness regulate the sex industry and control substance abuse.