Sexual intimacy and marital relationships in a low-income urban community in India. Issue 10 (3rd October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schensul, Stephen L.; Brault, Marie A.; Prabhughate, Priti; Bankar, Shweta; Ha, Toan; Foster, Deborah
• Is Part Of: Culture, health & sexuality. Volume 20:Issue 10(2018)
• Page Start: 1087
• Page End: 1101
• Publication Date: 2018-10-03
• Subjects: Married women -- low income -- marital sexuality -- urban -- India; Sex -- Periodicals; Sex -- Cross-cultural studies -- Periodicals; Sex -- Health aspects -- Periodicals; 306.705
• DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2018.1491060
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-1058

Abstract

Abstract: Data from a six-year study of married women's sexual health in a low-income community in Mumbai indicated that almost half the sample of 1125 women reported that they had a negative view of sex with their husbands. Qualitative interviews and quantitative survey data identified several factors that contributed to this diminished interest including: a lack of foreplay, forced sex, the difficulty of achieving privacy in crowded dwellings, poor marital relationships and communication, a lack of facilities for post-sex ablution and a strong desire to avoid conception. Women's coping strategies to avoid husband's demands for sex included refusal based on poor health, the presence of family members in the home and non-verbal communication. Factors that contributed to a satisfactory or pleasurable sexual relationship included greater relational equity, willingness on the part of the husband to not have sex if it is not wanted, a more 'loving' ( pyaar karna ) approach, women able to initiate sex and greater communication about sexual and non-sexual issues. This paper examines the ecological, cultural, couple and individual dynamics of intimacy and sexual satisfaction as a basis for the development of effective interventions for risk reduction among married women.