Perceived male sexual needs and male sexual behaviour in southwest Nigeria

Part of a research programme studying methods of combating the AIDS epidemic was a survey and accompanying qualitative research focused on attitudes toward male sexuality and male sexual behaviour outside marriage and the extent and success of female attempts to control it. A survey of 1749 males and 1976 females was conducted in urban and rural populations in three states of southwest Nigeria. The majority of the community believes that males are by nature sexually polygynous, although about half the community believes that male sexuality can and should be confined to marriage. These beliefs arise out of the nature of the traditional society and are being changed by new ways of life, education and imported religions. Nevertheless, sufficiently rapid change is unlikely, even if promoted by government, to successfully combat a major AIDS epidemic, and the major strategy should attempt to reduce the rate of transmission, especially in high-risk relationships.