Urban–rural differences in the socioeconomic deprivation–Sexual behavior link in Kenya

• Published in: Social science & medicine (1982) Vol. 64; no. 5; pp. 1019 - 1031
• Main Authors: Dodoo, F. Nii-Amoo, Zulu, Eliya M., Ezeh, Alex C.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2007; Elsevier; Pergamon Press Inc
• Series: Social Science & Medicine
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Age of onset; Biological and medical sciences; Condom use; Condoms; Data; Deprivation; Disadvantaged; Economic deprivation; Female; Health problems; Health Surveys; HIV Infections - economics; HIV Infections - transmission; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Kenya; Low income groups; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Multiple partners; Networking; Partnerships; Poverty; Poverty Rural-urban differences Sexual outcomes Multiple partners Condom use Kenya; Prevention and actions; Proportional Hazards Models; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Regional disparities; Risk; Risk-Taking; Rural areas; Rural Population; Rural Urban Differences; Safe sexual practices; Sex Factors; Sexual Behavior; Sexual behaviour; Sexual health; Sexual networking; Sexual outcomes; Slums; Social Class; Socioeconomic factors; Socioeconomic status; Unsafe Sex; Urban areas; Urban Population; Urban Poverty; Wives; Women; Kenya; Africa; Kenya, Nairobi; Condom use; Multiple partners; Sexual outcomes; Poverty; Rural–urban differences; Kenya; Human; Rural environment; Urban environment; Multiple; Prognosis; Socioeconomic status; Condom; Use; Sexual behavior; Evolution; Social medicine; Rural-urban differences; Social aspect; Comparative study; Public health
• ISSN: 0277-9536; 1873-5347
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2006.10.007

We compare the impact of socioeconomic deprivation on risky sexual outcomes in rural and urban Kenya. Quantitative data are drawn from the Demographic & Health Surveys (DHS) and qualitative data from the Sexual Networking and Associated Reproductive and Social Health Concerns study. Using two separate indicators of deprivation we show that, although poverty is significantly associated with the examined sexual outcomes in all settings, the urban poor are significantly more likely than their rural counterparts to have an early sexual debut and a greater incidence of multiple sexual partnerships. The disadvantage of the urban poor is accentuated for married women; those in Nairobi's slums are at least three times as likely to have multiple sexual partners as their rural counterparts. The implications of these findings are discussed.