Factors associated with age-disparate sexual partnerships among males and females in South Africa: a multinomial analysis of the 2012 national population-based household survey data

Musawenkosi Mabaso,Buyisile Chibi,Lehlogonolo Makola,Yogandra Naidoo,Olanrewaju Oladimeji,Inbarani Naidoo,Leickness Simbayi,Lungelo Mlangeni,Khangelani Zuma

doi:10.1186/s12982-021-00093-5

Abstract

BackgroundIn South Africa, age-disparate to sexual relationships where the age difference between partners is 5 years or greater is an important contributor to the spread of HIV. However, little is known about the predictors of age-disparate sexual relationships. This study investigates factors associated with age-disparate sexual relationships among males and females in South Africa.MethodsThis analysis used the 2012 nationally representative population-based household survey conducted using multi-stage stratified cluster sampling design. Multivariate multinomial stepwise logistic regression models were used to determine factors associated with age-disparate sexual relationships.ResultsOf 15,717 participants, who responded to the question on age-disparate sexual relationships, 62% males versus 58.5% females had partners within 5 years older or younger, 34.7% of males versus 2.7% of females had partners at least 5 years younger and 3.3% of males versus 38.8% of females had partners at least 5 years older. Among both males and females predictors of age-disparate sexual relationships were education, employment, socioeconomic status, locality type, age at sexual debut, condom use at last sexual act and HIV status while race was also an additional predictor for among females. Including unprotected sex and risk of HIV infection among adolescent girls and young women with sexual partners 5 years older their age.ConclusionsThis study suggest that there is a need for reprioritizing the combination of behavioural and structural interventions to address risky sexual behaviours, unprotected sex, poverty, limited education and gender inequitable norms related to age-disparate sexual relationships and HIV.

Highlights

In South Africa, age-disparate to sexual relationships where the age difference between partners is 5 years or greater is an important contributor to the spread of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
This study investigates factors associated with age-disparate sexual partnerships among males and females in South Africa using the 2012 national population-based household surveys
The current findings show that amongst females, race, marital status, education, socioeconomic status, locality type, sexual debut, and condom use at last sex were associated with age-disparate sexual relationships

Summary

Introduction

In South Africa, age-disparate to sexual relationships where the age difference between partners is 5 years or greater is an important contributor to the spread of HIV. In South Africa, age-disparate sexual relationships between partners 5 years or greater is an important contributor to the spread of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [1]. Mabaso et al Emerg Themes Epidemiol (2021) 18:3 to engage in risky sexual behaviour, such as low condom use and multiple sexual partners [1,2,3,4,5] This has been attributed to power dynamics in these relationships especially between younger women and older men [1]. Especially in developed countries, have studied older women in sexual partnerships with young men [11,12,13,14] These types of relationships have been attributed social and economic influences [11]. This differs from relationships where there is an older male and a younger female partner which is generally accepted and sometimes even encouraged [1, 2, 12]

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Discussion

Conclusion