HIV and Marital Outcomes: Dissolution and Remarriage in Kisesa, Tanzania

Richard Gregory, Population Council
Raphael Isingo, National Institute for Medical Research, Tanzania
Milly Marston, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Mark Urassa, National Institute for Medical Research, Tanzania
John Changalucha, National Institute for Medical Research, Tanzania
Milalu Ndege, National Institute for Medical Research, Tanzania
Yusufu Kumologa, National Institute for Medical Research, Tanzania
Basia Zaba, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Impacts of HIV on marital stability are important, especially so in the context of African marriage systems that typically leave women socioeconomically dependent on their husbands. This paper uses data from an open cohort study to investigate the association of union dissolution and remarriage with HIV status. 6,467 consenting adults were interviewed and provided blood for at least two of four serological surveys conducted 1994-2004. The proposed analyses measure marital transitions across the inter-survey intervals, with multivariate logistic regression models used to estimate their association with HIV status. Preliminary findings are that HIV is associated with significantly increased union dissolution among married women, even when widow-hood is excluded. No such effect is seen among men. Similarly, HIV is associated with a significant reduction in odds of remarriage for women, but not for men. Such results suggest gender differentials generating particular vulnerabilities (both socioeconomic and concerning infection risk) for females.