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The marriage institution is sacrosanct. It is the embodiment of all that is pleasant for humanity. It is the nucleus of a family. Society builds from it, so does the nation. But with shocking statistics from the National Aids Council (Nac) to the effect that up to 60 percent of all new HIV infections recorded in thefirst quarter of this year are attributable to people in that institution we are left to ask ourselves if it is still correct to say marriage is sacrosanct. It is still the embodiment of all that is pleasant for humanity?
It no longer is. Adultery has overthrown it and sexually transmitted infections, for long associated with prostitutes and casual sexual relationships, are now common. In fact, according to the Nac figures it is more dangerous now to have unprotected sex in a marriage than sex with a prostitute where the perception of risk is higher thus the condom is often used.
Indeed the statistics don’t blame the marriage institution alone for the frightening statistics, but couples in so-called stable relationships. However, when married couples are fingered in such infamy, we realise that the institution has been defiled, and it worries purists.
Nac monitoring and evaluation director, Amon Mpofu said couples must desist from thinking that because their relationships were steady, there was no need for them to practise safer sex.
“Unlike in many countries where new HIV infections are driven by sex workers, men who have sex with men and drug abusers, steady relationships inclusive of marriages contributed more than half to our new HIV infections. There is still a high level of low risk perception among people who are married or in steady relationships because both parties think they are not at risk,” said Mpofu.
Over the same period, the first quarter of this year, sex workers, who are generally regarded as involved in riskier sexual relationships, contributed only 10 percent to new infections, Nac said.
The figures also show that the country recorded over 50,000 new HIV infections in adults during the second quarter up from 42,403 in the first quarter. Detailed information on new infections in the second quarter was unavailable to show if the pattern of more HIV in marriage and long term relationships was maintained, dropped or even rose.
We await the disaggregated data for the second quarter, but we are concerned that in 2009, the contribution of couples in stable relationships to new infections was 51 percent.
It suggests that the figure is on a steady increase, while the perceived risky groups are becoming safer.
Reasons why the marriage institution is now the breeding ground for HIV are many.
Small houses, that is to say multiple, concurrent sexual networks involving married people and others out of it or within other marriages are becoming more common and are being condoned in some situations. The other factor is that married couples tend to trust each other, so the question of practising safer sex, like condom use is never discussed. Suggesting use of it would be to impute infidelity. So they tend to avoid protection.
This is different from casual sexual relationships where people don’t trust their partners, so often use protection.
We are deeply concerned about the higher prevalence of HIV among steady relationships.
To reverse this, we have to insist, first of all, on mutual faithfulness of partners in the union. We will not tire to crow about this although some view this call as old-fashioned.
But we have to say it is an irony that we have to state mutual faithfulness so as to prevent HIV infection when mutual faithfulness is what must define a marriage.
In the unfortunate instance that they both or one of them strays to a small house, they must make sure they use a condom, always and correctly. And when they come to their matrimonial beds, they must not pretend that they are clean by not using the condom.
Intensifying voluntary male circumcision can also help marriages when partners are unable to exercise faithfulness.
But like we said, it is awkward to have more HIV in marriage and stable relationships than out and having to suggest more condom use in the union. We ask ourselves where our humanity has gone. What is going to become of us?
Online Reporter