Determinants of extramarital sex by men in Tanzania: A case study of Mbeya region

Abstract

This paper attempts to identify some factors associated with extramarital sex by men in the Mbeya region of Tanzania using data from a survey conducted in 2003/2004. The choice of Mbeya region was prompted by the fact that it has been found by previous studies to be one of the regions with the highest HIV prevalence rate in Tanzania. Correlates of extramarital sex that were considered include current age, education, residence, age at first sexual intercourse, age at first marriage and sex before marriage. A bivariate analysis of the survey data, which comprised a sample size of 568 married men aged between 15 and 62 years revealed statistically significant association between extramarital sex with current age, education, age at first intercourse and sex before marriage. The effect of these variables was tested through a multivariate logistic regression analysis and all the four independent variables were found to be statistically significant predictors of extramarital sex in Mbeya region. Keywords: extramarital sex, correlates, logistic regression, HIV/AIDS, Tanzania.Maurice CY Mbago is a professor in the department of statistics and member of the Demographic Training Unit, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. His research interests include application of statistical and epidemiological methods to social and demographic data as well as risk factors for sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS. He has also conducted and supervised research on determinants of infant and child mortality. Francis J Sichona is a senior lecturer in the department of statistics and member of the Demographic Training Unit, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. His research interests are in reproductive health including HIV/AIDS and youth sexuality. He has also conducted some research on family planning and family structures. Correspondence to: mmbago@udsm.ac.tz Determinants of extramarital sex by men in Tanzania: A case study of Mbeya region Maurice CY Mbago, Francis J Sichona RésuméEn utilisant des données d'une enquête menée en 2003/2004, cet article tente d'identifier des facteurs associés aux relations sexuelles hors mariage d'hommes de la région de Mbeya en Tanzanie. Le choix de la région de Mbeya a été motivé par le fait que des études précédentes ont constaté que cette région avait l'un des taux de prévalence du VIH les plus élevés de Tanzanie. Les corrélats des rapports sexuels hors mariage qui ont été examinés comprennent l'âge actuel, le niveau d' éducation, le lieu de résidence, l'âge lors du premier rapport sexuel, l'âge lors du premier mariage et s'il y a eu ou non des relations sexuelles avant le mariage. Une analyse à deux variables réalisée à partir des données de l' enquête, qui comprenait un échantillon de 568 hommes mariés âgés de 15 à 62 ans, a révélé une association statistiquement significative entre les relations sexuelles hors mariage et l'âge actuel, le niveau d' éducation, l'âge lors du premier rapport sexuel et s'il y a eu des relations sexuelles ou non avant le mariage. L' effet de ces variab...

Linking gender, extramarital affairs, and HIV: a mixed methods study on contextual determinants of extramarital affairs in rural Tanzania

“…However, the finding that an extramarital affair has a significant association with HIV status among women only, is peculiar since the common understanding is that both men and women are at the risk of acquiring HIV infection through risky sexual behaviors. The finding is also contrary to other observations that men more often engage in extramarital affairs and thus are at risk of HIV infection [ 12 ].…”

“…Hence, we think that extramarital affairs should not merely be regarded as ‘risky behavior’ or be linked to economic factors alone, but it is important to appreciate the multiple social-cultural factors that contributes to the behaviour. This observation collaborates with findings from similar studies in Tanzania [ 4 , 12 , 13 ] and outside Tanzania [ 15 ] where multiple factors were found to influence extramarital affairs for men and women.…”

“…This potentially reflects that older age can be protective against extramarital affairs. Mbago et al [ 12 ] observed a similar pattern in southern Tanzania. However, this could be context-specific since a study in Cameroon found that extramarital practices significantly increased with older age [ 40 ].…”

“…Various social-behavioral aspects have been associated with extramarital affairs in SSA. In Tanzania, a study among men shows that, higher education, being older, a lower age at first sexual intercourse, and having sex before marriage were significantly associated with extramarital affairs [ 12 ]. Agnarson in Tanzania also found that concurrent partnerships are sometimes a way to assure financial security for women [ 13 ].…”

Determinants of Previous HIV Testing and Knowledge of Partner’s HIV Status Among Men Attending a Voluntary Counseling and Testing Clinic in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

“…For example, it has been reported that men in Tanzania and Nigeria seek extramarital sexual partners to increase their sense of masculinity and self-esteem when faced with situations, such as unemployment, that prevent them from fulfilling the role of provider and meeting the needs of their family (Oyediran, Isiugo-Abanihe, Feyisetan, & Ishola, 2010; Silberschmidt, 2001; Smith, 2007). In another study conducted among 584 married men in Mbeya, one of the regions with the highest HIV prevalence in Tanzania, 39% of the participants reported to have had sex with women other than their wives (Mbago & Sichona, 2011). A recent study revealed that that the only risky behavior associated with HIV among men in Tanzania was the number of sexual partners in the last 3 years (Ghebremichael & Paintsil, 2011).…”