Widow cleansing
Reference
Definition
Widow cleansing is a tradition in which a widowed woman is expected to have sexual intercourse as a form of ritual purification.
Quick Facts
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What does widow cleansing mean?
Widow cleansing refers to a traditional ritual that requires a widowed woman to have sexual intercourse for purification. The practice has been reported among Luo communities in some rural areas of western Kenya.
Widow cleansing has also been identified as a practice that can increase the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission.