a Department of Global Health , Maastricht University , Maastricht , The Netherlands.
b Department of Public Health , Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences University of Yaoundé , Yaoundé , Cameroon.
Cult Health Sex. 2019 Aug;21(8):946-956. doi: 10.1080/13691058.2018.1527944. Epub 2018 Nov 29.
Polygyny is a matrimonial union in which a single man is simultaneously married to multiple wives. On a daily basis, women in polygynous unions suffer from financial, emotional and physical burdens. This study explores women's perceptions of this matrimonial regime and the factors influencing their sexual health decision-making in Cameroon. Drawing on interviews with twenty-three women aged 23 to 80 years living in polygynous unions, we explore women's daily life and perceptions on polygyny. Using content analysis, meaning units relating to respondents' experiences and perceptions were identified and condensed into codes and categories that were later grouped into themes. Five themes emerged - refusal and tolerance; heavy workload and responsibility; lack of power in sexual health decision-making; discrimination and unequal treatment of spouses; and emotional suppression. Women reported emotional suppression, limited rights, discrimination and poor living conditions as being the most significant problems that they encountered. Addressing the discrimination faced by women in polygynous unions will entail adopting and implementing laws to protect women's rights and promote their empowerment.
一夫多妻制是指一个男人同时与多个妻子结婚的婚姻制度。在一夫多妻制的婚姻中，女性每天都承受着经济、情感和身体上的负担。本研究探讨了女性对这种婚姻制度的看法，以及影响她们在喀麦隆做出性健康决策的因素。通过对 23 名年龄在 23 岁至 80 岁之间生活在一夫多妻制婚姻中的女性进行访谈，我们探讨了女性的日常生活和对一夫多妻制的看法。采用内容分析法，确定了与受访者经历和看法相关的意义单位，并将其浓缩为代码和类别，然后将这些类别归入主题。研究结果显示，有五个主题出现：拒绝和容忍；工作量大，责任重；在性健康决策方面缺乏权力；歧视和配偶待遇不平等；情感压抑。女性报告说，情感压抑、权利受限、歧视和恶劣的生活条件是她们遇到的最严重问题。要解决一夫多妻制婚姻中女性面临的歧视问题，就需要通过和实施法律来保护妇女的权利，促进妇女赋权。
