Reflecting diversity and complexity in marital sexual relationships in a low-income community in Mumbai.

This paper describes findings from a study on spousal communication and sexual decision making among women and men from a low-income community in Mumbai. The study explored the link between contextual, individual and socio-economic factors, sexual behaviours and communication to highlight sexual health consequences for women and men. It utilized a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods including a community profile survey, focus group discussions, repeated in-depth interviews, pile sorting and the sequencing of sexual behaviours. Family structure and duration of marriage were found to influence the quality of marital sexual relationship. Early experiences of violence and coercive sex limited women's participation in, and enjoyment of, sex. Respondents revealed a normative sequence of pre-coital sexual behaviours; those reporting sexual violence invariably violated this sequence. Women's experiences of sexual violence revealed lower perceived equity compared with men. Respondents reporting an absence of sexual violence revealed increased satisfaction in sex and highlighted positive aspects of the marital relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]