Lifestyle predictors of concurrent sexual relationships in young adult males in Zimbabwe: Indications for cross-cultural research

BACKGROUND: Concurrent sexual relationships have been found to increase HIV transmission, especially shortly after initial transmission when viral loads spike. Studies are needed to determine lifestyle predictors of concurrent sexual relationships among sexually active young adult males. METHODS: In 2001/2002, the Zimbabwe Young Adult Survey, a national, population-based survey was administered to males and females ages 15 to 29. A sub-sample of 463 males met the dependent variable criteria, having reported either serial monogamous or concurrent sexual relationships in the past year, and was analyzed using logistic regression to determine correlates of concurrent versus serial monogamous sexual partners. RESULTS: Risk factors for concurrent sexual partners were age (OR=1.09; 95% CI=1.01-1.07), number of sexual partners in the past 12 months (OR=1.20; 95% CI=1.02-1.41), having last sex with wife (OR=12.79; 95% CI=4.78-34.20), and having last sex with fiancé, girlfriend, or lover (OR=2.11; 95% CI=1.15-3.88). Protective against concurrent relationships was attending religious services at least once a week (OR=0.45; 95% CI=0.21-0.96) versus less than once a week. Religious denomination was not found to be significant. Also nonsignificant were education level, socioeconomic status, knowledge of HIV, age at first sex, and number of lifetime partners. CONCLUSION: As frequency of attending religious services increased, concurrent sexual relationships declined. Future research should focus on the causal pathways between religious service attendance and serial monogamous behavior, as well as on the presence of this association in other cultural settings.