Brown University, 68 Waterman St., Box 1836 Providence, RI 02912.
1741-3737/asset/JOMF_left.gif?v=1&s=36c39db4e4de200b740ac070b956ceca980bc40c)
1741-3737/asset/JOMF_right.gif?v=1&s=ef008f55c93d3cedf431b5096fc43ca46fe51ad9)
Marital Aspirations, Sexual Behaviors, and HIV/AIDS in Rural Malawi
Article first published online: 16 APR 2009
DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-3737.2009.00607.x
© National Council on Family Relations, 2009
Additional Information
How to Cite
Clark, S., Poulin, M. and Kohler, H.-P. (2009), Marital Aspirations, Sexual Behaviors, and HIV/AIDS in Rural Malawi. Journal of Marriage and Family, 71: 396–416. doi: 10.1111/j.1741-3737.2009.00607.x
- †
Brown University, 68 Waterman St., Box 1836 Providence, RI 02912.
- ‡
University of Pennsylvania, 3718 Locust Walk (272 McNeil Bldg), Philadelphia, PA 19104-6298.
This manuscript was edited by Velma McBride Murry.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 16 APR 2009
- Article first published online: 16 APR 2009
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- HIV/AIDS;
- marital aspirations;
- sexual behaviors;
- sub-Saharan Africa
We explore how marital aspirations are related to the sexual behaviors of adolescents and young adults in Malawi, where HIV/AIDS prevalence among adults exceeds 10%. We also consider whether the specter of AIDS is shaping ideals about marriage. By combining survey data (N = 1,087) and in-depth interviews (N = 133) with young Malawians from the Malawi Diffusion and Ideational Change Project, we show that looking for and finding a suitable spouse are linked to sexual behaviors and, thus, HIV risks. Moreover, concerns about contracting HIV are closely tied to the ideal characteristics of a future spouse. Our findings draw long-overdue attention to the importance of marital aspirations in understanding adolescent sexual behaviors and risks in the era of AIDS.