An inquiry into the uneven distribution of women's HIV infection in rural Malawi
Ecological comparisons in sub-Saharan Africa show that HIV prevalence is lower where men are generally circumcised than where they are not. Randomized controlled trials have found a 50-60Š reduction in HIV acquisition for newly circumcised men. Yet in Malawi, HIV prevalence is highest in s...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research
2011-12-01
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| Series: | Demographic Research |
| Online Access: | http://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol25/28/ |
| _version_ | 1828353357620707328 |
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| author | Michelle Poulin Adamson S. Muula |
| author_facet | Michelle Poulin Adamson S. Muula |
| author_sort | Michelle Poulin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ecological comparisons in sub-Saharan Africa show that HIV prevalence is lower where men are generally circumcised than where they are not. Randomized controlled trials have found a 50-60Š reduction in HIV acquisition for newly circumcised men. Yet in Malawi, HIV prevalence is highest in several districts in the Southern Region, where men are commonly circumcised. We draw upon a population-based sample of ever-married women to explore this unexpected finding. Our data show that in the southern district of Balaka, women with circumcised spouses have a lower probability of HIV infection compared to those with uncircumcised spouses. However, the strength of this effect is conditioned by specific marital histories: among women with circumcised spouses, those with multiple marriages and an absence of spousal co-residence have a higher probability of HIV infection than do those married once and those who have never lived apart from their spouses. The history of marital turnover and female-headed households among the ethnic groups of Balaka offer insight into the district's elevated HIV levels. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T02:07:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2c6fd5112cd44baa891fdf2d64c144f9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1435-9871 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T02:07:47Z |
| publishDate | 2011-12-01 |
| publisher | Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Demographic Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-2c6fd5112cd44baa891fdf2d64c144f92022-12-22T02:18:36ZengMax Planck Institute for Demographic ResearchDemographic Research1435-98712011-12-012528An inquiry into the uneven distribution of women's HIV infection in rural MalawiMichelle PoulinAdamson S. MuulaEcological comparisons in sub-Saharan Africa show that HIV prevalence is lower where men are generally circumcised than where they are not. Randomized controlled trials have found a 50-60Š reduction in HIV acquisition for newly circumcised men. Yet in Malawi, HIV prevalence is highest in several districts in the Southern Region, where men are commonly circumcised. We draw upon a population-based sample of ever-married women to explore this unexpected finding. Our data show that in the southern district of Balaka, women with circumcised spouses have a lower probability of HIV infection compared to those with uncircumcised spouses. However, the strength of this effect is conditioned by specific marital histories: among women with circumcised spouses, those with multiple marriages and an absence of spousal co-residence have a higher probability of HIV infection than do those married once and those who have never lived apart from their spouses. The history of marital turnover and female-headed households among the ethnic groups of Balaka offer insight into the district's elevated HIV levels.http://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol25/28/ |
| spellingShingle | Michelle Poulin Adamson S. Muula An inquiry into the uneven distribution of women's HIV infection in rural Malawi Demographic Research |
| title | An inquiry into the uneven distribution of women's HIV infection in rural Malawi |
| title_full | An inquiry into the uneven distribution of women's HIV infection in rural Malawi |
| title_fullStr | An inquiry into the uneven distribution of women's HIV infection in rural Malawi |
| title_full_unstemmed | An inquiry into the uneven distribution of women's HIV infection in rural Malawi |
| title_short | An inquiry into the uneven distribution of women's HIV infection in rural Malawi |
| title_sort | inquiry into the uneven distribution of women apos s hiv infection in rural malawi |
| url | http://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol25/28/ |
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