title: Gendered HIV risk patterns among polygynous sero-discordant couples in Uganda.
abstract: Stable serodiscordant relationships and sexual concurrency are pathways that contribute to the HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa. However whether polygyny imparts the same risks as informal concurrent relationships remains an open research question. Using data collected at enrollment from a cohort study of sero-discordant couples, this analysis investigates how polygynous relationships differ from those involving only a single female spouse and whether men involved in polygynous partnerships are more likely to report HIV-risk behaviour than those in single spouse partnerships. Of 444 enrolled couples, 111 (25%) were polygynous and 333 (75%) were single-spouse partnerships. We found that polygynous men were more likely to report controlling sexual decision-making and to report any unprotected sex with unknown sero-status partner. After controlling for potential confounders, polygynous men were still more likely to report unprotected sex with an unknown sero-status partner. In this sample of sero-discordant couples we found indication of excess HIV-risk behaviour among men involved in polygynous relationships.
authors.affiliation: BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Muldoon
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shannon
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khanakwa
authors.forename: Moses
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ngolobe
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Birungi
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Anya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mwesigwa
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012747:Sexual Partners; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult