Nuptiality and AIDS in Rakai District Uganda

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To examine the relationship between union status and AIDS prevalence; number of sexual partners and condom use. Methods: Questionnaire was administered in 1991 to 2;607 adults 13 years and above to report their marital status; number of sexual partners in the past 12 months and condom use. HIV-1 serology was done for 3123 consenting adults. Results: Prevalence ranged from 1.4among individuals who were single and had never had sex to 30.1among the separate/divorced. The polygamous and the widowed also had high prevalence of 22.5and 27.4respectively. Monogamous people and individuals not in union but sexually active had the same sero-prevalence of about 18. Age group 20-29 had the highest sero-prevalence (32) while the 60+ yrs had the lowest (4). Over 70of the sexually active single individuals reported to have had sex in the past 12 months; with 23reporting more than one partner. Sexual exposure in the past 12 months was 31among the widowed compared to 46among the separated/divorced. 7of individuals in monogamous would be expected; the sexually active single individuals reported the highest condom use rate of 22. The rest of union categories had rates below 8. Conclusions: The high HIV prevalence among the sexually active single; calls for an intensification of the Health Education Programme emphasing partner reduction and condom use among others. it is yet to be established whether or not the high prevalence among the sepated/divorced preceeds or succeeds their current marital status