Times Of Swaziland: There are more male virgins than women

There are more male virgins than women
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 MUSA SIMELANE  on 17/02/2012 00:00:00


MBABANE – There are more male virgins than female ones in the kingdom, the
fourth and latest Multiple Cluster Index Survey (MICS) 2010 report has revealed.
The report was launched at the Mountain Inn yesterday, an event attended by
Minister of Economic Planning and Development Prince Hlangusempi and United
Nations Children and Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Representative in Swaziland Dr Jama
Gulaid among others.
It is released every four to five years. The core objectives of the survey
included providing decision makers with evidence on children’s women’s and
vulnerable population’s rights, assessing the current situation of women and
other vulnerable population to provide baseline for the country’s development
priorities, and strengthening of national capacity in data collection and
analysis.
In the section on HIV/AIDS and sexual behaviour, the survey showed that
nationally, 55 per cent of women within the 15 to 24 years age bracket who had
never got married, and 64 per cent of men of the same age bracket have never had
sex before.
Partners
However, only a small proportion of youth aged 15-24 years had sex before age
15, and these are four per cent women and three per cent male.
The report also stated that sex with multiple partners was more common among men
than women, in fact 15 per cent of men between 15 and 59 years had sex with more
than one partner in the last 12 months, whereas only three per cent of women
engaged in the same. However, 69 per cent of men reported to have used a condom
and 73 per cent of women did the same.
"Nationally, almost all women and men (99 per cent) have heard of HIV. However,
only 59 per cent of women and 55 per cent men have comprehensive knowledge about
HIV transmission. More women know where to get tested for HIV than men, and the
former also lead in getting tested," said the report.
Source
Meanwhile, speaking about the survey, Prince Hlangusempi approved the survey
report as a worthy source in gauging the efforts of government.
He said the importance of timely and reliable statistics was very important and
therefore statisticians were more challenged to give proper guidance in these
economically challenging times.
"I urge all policymakers, programmers, data users, researchers and media to use
the MICS results for evidence based decision making, analysis, budgeting and so
on," he said.
38% of OVC go without one meal a day
MBABANE – A total of 38 per cent orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) do not
enjoy one meal per day or have two pairs of clothing and also a pair of shoes.
According to the Multiple Cluster Index Survey (MICS) 2010 report, exploring the
variations by demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, urban residence is
positively associated with the likelihood of having basic material needs met.
Children from the Hhohho region have the highest likelihood of having basic
needs met, while those from Lubombo region have the lowest likelihood.
"Male children who are orphaned and or vulnerable are slightly less likely than
their female counterparts to have basic material needs met.
"Older children (ages 15 to 17 years) were more likely to have their basic
needs, material needs, met compared to those who are from five to 14 years," the
report explained.
Dr Jama Gulaid, United Nations Children and Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
Representative in Swaziland, said the survey was a rich source of information on
the situation of vulnerable children. He noted that 45 per cent of children in
the kingdom were orphaned or vulnerable.
Gulaid highlighted that the children’s welfare bill and other legislative
instruments were indicative of government’s commitment.