Assessment of gender norms influencing marital satisfaction for HIV and AIDS prevention among couples in Dar es salaam region, Tanzania

Abstract

Background: Concurrent sexual partnership is among the risk factors for HIV transmission in sub Saharan Africa and the quality of marital satisfaction is among the factors contributing to it. Marital satisfaction is influenced by many factors including gender norms and gender norms keep changing from time to time in different parts of the world towards more gender equality but how such gender norm transformation is translated by men and women in terms marital satisfaction is not well understood in Tanzania. This qualitative study was conducted to explore and better understand gender norms influencing marital satisfaction for HIV and AIDS prevention among couples Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in three districts (Temeke, Kinondoni and Ilala) of Dar es Salaam city in Tanzania. The study involved 12 focus group discussions which included a total of 49 married men and 55 married women. Focus groups were audio taped, transcribed and translated into English for analysis. Data were analyzed using thematic coding and matrices were developed. Results: Results showed that men and women are influenced differently by gender norms as the result they bring different realistic and unrealistic expectations and needs into marriage which ultimately influences negatively their marital satisfaction. Moreover, the findings showed that couples lack effective communication skills to resolve conflicts or when dealing with marital dissatisfaction. Engaging into risky sexual behaviors as a coping mechanism to marital dissatisfaction contributes to the vulnerabilities of couples to HIV and AIDS. However, some men and women have started to question some of the gender norms given the negative outcomes of their masculinity or femininity behaviors to family health Conclusion and recommendation: Men and women need to invest enough time knowing and harmonizing each other’s needs and expectations before they get married. Programs on HIV/AIDS prevention including religious services need to employ gender synchronization strategies to achieve gender equality, and improve family health. Findings highlight the need for extensive studies sung both qualitative and quantitative research in order to understand the magnitude and other factors explaining marital dissatisfaction in other parts of Tanzania