Sex for pleasure, not babies - medic

By Pascal Kwesiga                      

Is sex for love or for making babies? Couples should engage in sex to celebrate love between themselves, but not necessarily for reproductive purposes, a doctor has said.

Dr. Jolly Beyeza of Mulago hospital was reacting to remarks from an official from South Sudan who said their culture bars a husband from engaging in sex with his wife once she has given birth until the baby is three years old.

Dr. Alex Dimiti, the director general for reproductive health in the ministry of health in the government of south Sudan said the practice was being used as a traditional birth control measure.  

He was speaking during a recent national conference on family planning in Kampala.

His comments shocked the conference delegates who condemned the cultural practice, saying it was denying the people of South Sudan their conjugal rights.

Health workers and MPs asked Dimiti if there was proof that men do not get engage in sex relations with other women when their wives deliver babies. “Of course men get other wives,” he said.

Beyeza blamed it on the wrong interpretation of sex saying “Here (Uganda) we know sex is for love, not for production of children. People need to understand that they can have sex for love and not to get babies,”