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.

En 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 variables a été testé au travers d'une analyse de régression logistique multivariable. Indépendamment des autres, chaque variable s'est révélée être un indice statistiquement significatif de relations sexuelles hors mariage dans la région de Mbeya.

Keywords:

• extramarital sex
• correlates
• logistic regression
• HIV/AIDS
• Tanzania

Mots clés:

• relations sexuelles hors mariage
• corrélats
• régression logistique
• VIH/SIDA
• Tanzanie

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Maurice CY Mbago

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

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.