Type | Journal Article - Studies in Family Planning |
Title | The association between remarriage and HIV infection in 13 Sub-Saharan African countries |
Author(s) | |
Volume | 43 |
Issue | 1 |
Publication (Day/Month/Year) | 2012 |
Page numbers | 1-10 |
URL | http://www.popline.org/node/565649 |
Abstract | Separated, divorced, and widowed individuals in Africa are at significantly increased risk for HIV infection. Using nationally representative data from 13 sub-Saharan African countries, this study confirms that finding and goes further by examining those who have experienced a marital dissolution and are now remarried. Results show that remarried individuals form a large portion of the population and have a higher-than-average HIV prevalence. HIV-positive remarried individuals are at risk of transmitting the infection to their spouse, because many of the couples are serodiscordant. The large number of high-risk remarried individuals is a source of vulnerability and further infection, and should be acknowledged and taken into account by prevention strategies that rarely address this population. |