Extramarital Sexual Affairs’ Critical Role in the Transmission of HIV Infections among Married Couples: The Case of Singida Municipality
This study investigated the extramarital sexual affairs’ critical role in the transmission of HIV infection among married couples. The study mainly focused on factors influencing extramarital sexual affairs, the consequences of HIV infection among married couples and their families and proposed measures to sensitize communities on the maladies of extramarital affairs. The study took on a qualitative case study design. Purposive sampling techniques were used whereby 50 respondents were recruited and interviewed. In-depth interviews were used for the collection of data. Data were qualitatively analyzed thematically using Nvivo QDA computer software package. The study has revealed that human behavior, poverty, matrimonial conflicts, alcoholism, sexual dissatisfaction, staying away from partner for a long time and polygamy were the main factors which led to extramarital sexual affairs. The study identified that when couples are infected with the virus there is a great chance for increased mother to child HIV transmission, poverty, psychological and emotional problems, family disintegrations, increase in new HIV cases in the society, increased street children due to death of parents and reduction of man power. Further, the study recommends that premarital counseling services, social and behavioral change communication programs and poverty reduction interventions can help to reduce this problem. It was again suggested that establishment of anti-adultery laws, community health education on HIV infection in marriages, and anti-alcoholism policies can help to reduce extramarital sexual affairs and decrease the rate of HIV infection among married couples.
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