Zimbabwean men report five times more sexual partners than women — ZDHS
Duduzile Nyathi
The 2023–24 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) has revealed stark gender differences in reported sexual behavior, with men significantly more likely than women to report having multiple sexual partners.
According to the national survey, 14.1% of men aged 15–49 who were sexually active in the 12 months preceding the survey said they had two or more sexual partners during that time. In contrast, only 1.3% of sexually active women in the same age range reported having had more than one sexual partner in the previous year.
The survey, conducted by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, collected self-reported data from over 20,000 households across all provinces. It included detailed questions about sexual activity, lifetime number of partners, and knowledge of HIV prevention methods.
Overall, the mean number of lifetime sexual partners reported was 1.6 for women and 5.5 for men, further highlighting the gender gap in sexual behavior. The report notes that among men, the number of lifetime partners increases with age.
The ZDHS also assessed HIV prevention knowledge. A large majority of respondents acknowledged that HIV risk can be reduced through faithful, monogamous relationships. Specifically, 80.8% of women and 84.7% of men agreed that “the risk of getting HIV can be reduced by having just one uninfected sex partner who has no other sex partners.”
Although these high awareness levels indicate widespread public health messaging penetration, the behavioral data suggests a disconnect between knowledge and practice, particularly among men.
The survey also collected information on condom use during last sexual intercourse with partners who were neither spouses nor cohabiting partners. The findings show 44.1% of men and 33.5% of women used a condom in such encounters, pointing to continued risks in non-marital sexual activity.
The ZDHS does not pass judgment on individual behaviors but provides vital data to guide national efforts in combating HIV, improving reproductive health, and promoting safer sex practices. With Zimbabwe maintaining one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the region, the survey’s findings are expected to inform both government and civil society strategies for behavior change communication.
The report reiterates the importance of comprehensive sexual education, access to family planning, and open public discussion about fidelity, condom use, and gender norms in shaping healthier sexual behavior.
