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Mbwiga Aloni,1 Maurice CY Mbago,2 Francis J Sichona2 1Department of Mathematics, Physics and Information Technology, Mkwawa University College of Education (MUCE), Iringa, Tanzania; 2Department of Statistics, University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaCorrespondence: Mbwiga AloniCollege of Education, Mkwawa University, Iringa 2513, TanzaniaTel +255 755 284 849Email mbwiga1981@gmail.comAim: This study assesses how the combined effects of knowledge of the HIV/AIDS prevention methods (ie, abstinence (A), being faithful (B), condom use (C), and diagnosis or testing (D)) influence behavioral change in terms of condom use.Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional design. Data were collected using a household survey conducted in 2017 in the Tanga and Njombe Regions of Tanzania through a structured questionnaire. The dependent variable was condom use during the last sexual intercourse. The main independent variable was knowledge of HIV prevention methods, referred to in this study as “knowledge of ABCD of HIV/AIDS prevention”. A respondent with knowledge of three or more of the ABCD was classified as having good knowledge of HIV prevention. Those with knowledge of two, one, or none of the ABCD were classified as having average, fair, and poor knowledge of HIV prevention methods, respectively. Data analysis included univariate analysis, bivariate analysis, and multivariate logistic regression analysis. The study included 660 respondents aged 15–64 years.Results: The study indicates that the majority (52.2%) of the respondents had average knowledge of the HIV prevention methods. That is, they were knowledgeable of any two of the A, B, C, and D of HIV prevention methods. Condom use during the last sexual intercourse was reported by 46.5% of respondents. Multivariate analysis showed that condom use was 1.48-times more likely among respondents with good knowledge of ABCD of HIV/AIDS prevention than those with poor knowledge.Conclusion: The predictive effect of knowledge of the HIV prevention methods on condom use was more visible when assessed in combination than when treated at A, B, C, and D in isolation. This suggests that successful behavioral change towards HIV/AIDS aversion requires dedicated efforts that promote comprehensive knowledge of all the methods through which the epidemic can be transmitted.Keywords: combined knowledge of ABCD, condom use, high and low HIV/AIDS, prevalence regions, multivariate, Tanzania

This paper attempts to identify some factors associated with extramarital sex by men in the Mbeya region of Tanzania using data from a survey conducted in 2003/2004. The choice of Mbeya region was prompted by the fact that it has been found by previous studies to be one of the regions with the highest HIV prevalence rate in Tanzania. Correlates of extramarital sex that were considered include current age, education, residence, age at first sexual intercourse, age at first marriage and sex before marriage. A bivariate analysis of the survey data, which comprised a sample size of 568 married men aged between 15 and 62 years revealed statistically significant association between extramarital sex with current age, education, age at first intercourse and sex before marriage. The effect of these variables was tested through a multivariate logistic regression analysis and all the four independent variables were found to be statistically significant predictors of extramarital sex in Mbeya region.

In this paper we attempt to identify factors that determine knowledge on prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among primary school pupils in Tanzania using data extracted from the Family Life Education KAP Survey conducted in 1999. The data used consist of a sample of 18,564 pupils (about 50% males and 50% females) from all the 20 regions of Tanzania mainland. There were significant differences between boys and girls as regards knowledge of family life education in general. Boys tended to be more knowledgeable than girls about many aspects of family life education. The findings show that only 40.1% of the respondents were able to identify all the three STDs given in the questionnaire namely gonorrhoea, syphilis and AIDS. As regards modes of HIV transmission only 37.5% had full knowledge of these, while 48.8% knew condom use and abstinence as methods of STD prevention. The bivariate analysis showed significant relationships between knowledge of condom use and abstinence as methods of STD prevention with knowledge of STDs, HIV transmission, education level of the respondents, residence and parents' education for both boys and girls. However, knowledge of STDs, HIV transmission and residence came out clearly in the logistic regression as predictors of knowledge of condom use as a method of STD prevention for both sexes. For males, mother's education was also a significant predictor of knowledge of condom use as a method of STD prevention. Furthermore, a significant predictor of knowledge of condom use for female respondents was found to be the respondent's educational level. On the other hand, predictors of knowledge of abstinence as a method of STD prevention were knowledge of STDs and HIV transmission.

Re-examination of the polygyny-fertility hypothesis, by multiple regression analysis of the 1988 Ghana DHS data, reveals that polygyny has no effect on the number of children ever born; i.e. polygynously married women are as fertile as those monogamously married. Husband's age has no significant role in determining the number of children ever born to a woman.