A survey of sexual habits was conducted among Africans living in and around the Salisbury area of Rhodesia. With the exception of a high rate of venereal disease (overall occurrence 22%) the general health of the interviewees was good. Of men interviewed, 63% had heard of family planning but only 25% completely favoured its practice. Reasons against family planning included cost, religious or political beliefs and unwillingness to interfere with nature. The most commonly used contraceptive method was the pill.

Among married men, average frequency of intercourse was 2·1 times daily. Bachelors reported this parameter in terms of frequency per ‘date’ (2·8). The interval between dates varied from 2 to 9 days. Of married men, 90% had intercourse at night whereas the majority of bachelors had intercourse at an opportune time. Among married men, 22% had regular extra-marital intercourse.

Mean age of men at first intercourse was 18·0 years and that of their partner 16·8 years. Seventy-six per cent of men reported that intercourse normally lasted less than 5 min, and 57% always experienced orgasm during intercourse. The most favoured method for intercourse (66%) was the male superior-female supine position. Twice as many married men either used or had used aphrodisiacs as had bachelors (23%). Despite the widespread availability of beetles which contain twice as much cantharides as do Spanish fly, the most commonly used aphrodisiacs were of plant origin.