Vaginal practices: eroticism and implications for women's health and condom use in Mozambique

Abstract

This paper analyses two female sexual practices in Tete Province, Mozambique: (1) the practice of elongating the labia minora and (2) what is sometimes called 'dry sex' involving the insertion of natural and/or synthetic products into the vagina or the ingestion of these products orally. These practices are fundamental to the construction of female identity, eroticism and the experience of pleasure. Notions such as 'closed/open', 'dry/damp', 'hot/cold', 'heavy/light', 'life/death', 'wealth/poverty' and 'sweet/not sweet' are central to local understandings of sexual practices and reproduction. These notions may affect the women's sexual health because they influence preferences for sex without a condom. These practices may also be associated with the alteration of the vaginal flora and vaginal lesions that may make women more vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections.

“Cutting for love”: genital incisions to enhance sexual desirability and commitment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

“…(FGD with rural men age [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] "…If the umuthi is on me then I don't see that.…”

“…You see, girls are witches." (FGD with rural men age [18][19][20][21][22] Almost all women in the survey reported nondisclosure of genital incisions (94.4%). When asked what their partner would do if he found out, 37.7% said he would be angry while 32.3% believed discovery would result in violence or abandonment.…”

“…(FGD with rural men age [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] Discussion Genital incisions were reported by about one in 30 women in KwaZulu-Natal, though at much higher levels in some population sub-groups, such as women belonging to Zionist Churches. This may relate to the fact that sorcery is a central concern of these churches, which generally promote traditional forms of healing over western biomedicine.…”

Review of Sexuality Studies in Africa: Setting a New Post-2015 Research Agenda

“…In addition, sexual pleasure was found to be studied while investigating different sex practices especially among women. For example, Bagnol et al reported on two sex practices among Mozambiquan women-elongation of the labio minora and insertion of natural or synthetic products into the vagina (dry sex) 37 . These practices were usually undertaken for female identity and enhancement of sexual pleasure.…”

Voices from the periphery: A narrative study of the experiences of sexuality of disabled women in Zimbabwe

“…One practice that has been widely described amongst women in African countries such as Uganda and Zimbabwe is the stretching of the labia, a practice which represents a woman's initiation into sexuality (Bagnol & Mariano, 2008a, 2008bTamale 2005;Williams, 1969). In a study carried out among Shona women in Zimbabwe it was noted during medical observations that most of the women possessed elongated labia (Williams, 1969).…”