Linkages Between Socio-Cultural Practices and Sexually Transmitted Diseases: A Case of Married Women Sharing Husbands with Male Relatives and Friends

The study was conducted in Dodoma Municipality, Bahi and Chamwino Districts. It aimed at examining the prevalence of STIs, Culture of married women sharing husband with male relatives and friends and establishing the link between MWSHMF and STIs. The study involved 530 respondents. Structured questionnaires, checklist, documentary review, focus group discussion were used for data collection. SPSS was used for data processing. Frequency distributions, cross tabulations and Logistic regression were used for data analysis. The study findings show that culture of MWSHMF was high in Chamwino and Bahi Districts at 84.8% and 77.4% respectively. The STIs symptoms were found to include, Abnormal Genital Discharge, Inguino Bubo, Itching and skin Diseases highly (>25%) found in both men and women with exception of Inguinal Bubo and Itching which were found in women at less than 20%. The likely to be diagnosed diseases these symptoms were Chlamydia, Lympho granuloma venereum gonorrhea, Herpes, HIV/AIDS and Trichomoniasis Bahi and Chamwino Districts, Duration of stay 11–30 and religious were effective variables in linking the culture of MWSHMF and STIs. One symptom of STI is associated with more than one Sexually Transmitted Disease. District (p=0.002) duration of stay (p=0.0.006) and education (p=0.008) were highly associated with married women sharing husband with male relatives and friends. There is a link between MWSHMF and spread STIs. The study recommends that the government in collaboration with other development actors should create awareness on the association between practices of married MWSHMF. Women should use the kitchen party platform to educate on the effects of partner sharing. Moreover, both men and women should be encouraged to check their health status regularly.