Marriage, widowhood, divorce and HIV risks among women in sub-Saharan Africa.
OBJECTIVE
Studies on associations between marriage and HIV infection among women in sub-Saharan Africa are generally inconclusive. Not enough is known about HIV risks among divorced and widowed women. This study examined the relationship between marital status and HIV infection among women in seven sub-Saharan African countries.


METHODS
Retrospective data from the Demographic and Health Surveys were combined with HIV biomarker data from the AIDS Indicator Survey (AIS) for analysis. Random-effects complementary log-log models were applied to examine the relationship between marital status and HIV risks controlling for theoretically relevant covariates.


RESULTS
Compared to never-married women, widowed women were significantly more likely to be HIV positive. Similarly, married women were more likely to be infected with HIV, compared to never-married women in Lesotho and Zimbabwe. In Tanzania and Zimbabwe, divorced women had higher risks of HIV infection, compared to never-married women.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that specific HIV programs be directed at vulnerable women, in particular those widowed. Similar programs are needed for both poorer and wealthier women.
Department of Sociology, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, Canada, A1C 5S7.
Eric Y
EY
Tenkorang
D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D004243:Divorce; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D017533:Marital Status; D008393:Marriage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012847:Single Person; D017805:Widowhood; D016387:Women's Health
Demographic and Health Survey; HIV infection; Marital status; Sub-Saharan Africa; Women