The Association Between Remarriage and HIV Infection in 13 Sub-Saharan African Countries

From:
Department for International Development
Published
1 January 2012
Country:
Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Ghana, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Lesotho, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Guinea
Document Type:
Journal Article
Theme:
Economic Growth
Authors:
de Walque, D., Kline, R.

Abstract

Separated, divorced, and widowed individuals in Africa are at significantly increased risk for HIV infection. Using nationally representative data from 13 sub-Saharan African countries, this study confirms that finding and goes further by examining those who have experienced a marital dissolution and are now remarried. Results show that remarried individuals form a large portion of the population and have a higher-than-average HIV prevalence. HIV-positive remarried individuals are at risk of transmitting the infection to their spouse, because many of the couples are serodiscordant. The large number of high-risk remarried individuals is a source of vulnerability and further infection, and should be acknowledged and taken into account by prevention strategies that rarely address this population.

Citation

de Walque, D.; Kline, R. The Association Between Remarriage and HIV Infection in 13 Sub-Saharan African Countries. Studies in Family Planning (2012) 43 (1) 1-10. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1728-4465.2012.00297.x]

The Association Between Remarriage and HIV Infection in 13 Sub-Saharan African Countries

Published 1 January 2012
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