Social Determinants of HIV-Testing among Married Couples in Swaziland

Nami Kurimoto, Tulane University

Most of HIV infection is attributed to heterosexual transmission through marriage or cohabitation in sub-Saharan African countries with generalized HIV/AIDS epidemic. However, few studies target these couples who are actually at great risk of HIV infection. Considering social, cultural and economic influences generated through a gender lens on HIV prevention methods, this study examined factors associated with couples’ participation in HIV testing. Employing the matched data for couples from Swaziland Demographic and Health Surveys, the analysis included the total number of 717 married couples and used multivariate multinomial logistic regression. The result suggested that wife’s self-efficacy towards negotiating safer sex, couples’ lack of stigma towards and knowledge of PLWHA were associated with HIV testing. In order to promote HIV testing among couples in Swaziland, it is recommended to diminish HIV-related stigma, include PLWHA in HIV/AIDS prevention efforts and enhance married women’s self-efficacy to negotiate sexual intercourse with her partner.