Disparity in Number of Partners and Marital Fidelity as Reported by Couples in Nigeria

Abstract

Marriage in a typical patriarchal society like Nigeria tends to subordinate women to male authority. Mutual faithfulness is expected among couples even in polygynous unions.  Many individuals engage in premarital sex, as such creating a gap requiring some adjustments upon marriage.  The adjustments are more dramatic for women, as may be demanded by cultural norms expected of the new role of wife and mother, irrespective of having had active premarital sexual lives.  Marital infidelity is a highly contentious issue in Africa.  Infidelity from a dyadic perspective has not received adequate attention in sub-Saharan Africa. There still exists a sexual double standard around marital infidelity that makes it more socially acceptable for men than women to engage in sex outside of the marital dyad. Research has found that married women are at risk for HIV primarily because of their husbands’ infidelity, and wives have little control over this risk, which is not lessened by their own fidelity.  Research on concordance between couples have been more on issues relating to family planning, desired family size among others. There is very limited research on issues of deception and fidelity among married couples.  This paper examines the situation of transparency on the part of the husband and wife to one another on the issue of number of partners they are involved with.  The paper also examines the level of sexual fidelity among couples in Nigeria.  The paper found that, there is more transparency between couples in polygynous unions than those in monogamous unions.  Infidelity is lowest among the poorest couples.  The consequences of infidelity on our quest as a country to reverse the trend of HIV is better imagined than experienced. There is the need to create more enlightenment and awareness on the need for transparency and mutual fidelity among couples.  This is to ensure the health of the spouse and the well-being of the entire family.  The health of the spouse not engaged in infidelity may be endangered resulting from sexually transmitted infections that may be contracted, and the well-being of the family is likely to be worsened when there will be the need for medical care and resources that should have been utilized for other family needs will go to cater for the health needs of the unfaithful partner.

Keywords: Disparity, Fidelity, Couples, Partners