180827 Lifestyle predictors of concurrent sexual relationships in young adult males in Zimbabwe: Indications for cross-cultural research

Monday, October 27, 2008: 9:00 AM

Rebecca Morgan, MPH , Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA
Nancy Thompson, PhD, MPH , Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA
Joan Herold, PhD , Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA
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.

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the need to examine serial monogamous and concurrent sexual behavior among young adult males. Discuss the cultural importance of studying reproductive health among Zimbabwean males. Identify at least two factors correlated with serial monogamy in Zimbabwean males.

Keywords: HIV Risk Behavior, Male Reproductive Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I do not have a conflict of interest from either a relevant financial relationship with a commercial interest occurring within the past 12 months or the opportunity to affect the content of CE about the products or services of that commercial interest.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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