Coital Frequency and Male Concurrent Partnerships During Pregnancy and Postpartum in Agbogbloshie, Ghana

Abstract

During pregnancy and postpartum, women in high HIV prevalence regions continue to be at high risk for acquiring HIV, due to both behavioral and biological mechanisms, despite declines in coital frequency as a pregnancy advances. We estimated differences in rates of partnership concurrency for men with and without pregnant or postpartum sexual partners. We used monthly retrospective panel data from Ghana from three perspectives: couple-level data, female reports of pregnancy and male partner concurrency, and male reports of concurrent partnerships and female partner pregnancy. Coital frequency increased during the first trimester and then declined with advancing pregnancy. However, in all three analyses, there was no compelling evidence that men with pregnant or postpartum partners had additional concurrent partnerships. Our findings suggest that even though women's sexual activity likely declines during pregnancy and postpartum, they may not be at increased risk of HIV/STI due to their partners seeking additional partnerships.

Keywords: Agbogbloshie; HIV/STI; Multiple concurrent partnerships; Postpartum; Pregnant.

Figure 1:

Coital frequency by pregnancy and post-partum status, reported by men, women, and men and women in cohabiting or married partnerships.

Figures 2a & 2b:

Proportion of person-months in which the male partner has concurrent partnerships, by female-partner pregnancy (yes/no, Figure 2a) and by female trimester and post-partum status (Figure 2b) using couple-data, female-, and male-reports.