Tanzania HIV/AIDS and Malaria Indicator Survey ... - Measure DHS

3.6 CURRENT MARITAL STATUSMarriage is the primary indicator of women’s exposure to the risk of pregnancy. Both age atfirst marriage and the proportion of the population in union are proximate determinants of pregnancyrisk, as they influence fertility. For example, populations in which age at first marriage is low, tend tohave early childbearing and, consequently, high fertility.Marriage exposes women and men to sexual intercourse, which is the primary means bywhich HIV is transmitted in Tanzania. In this report, the term ‘marriage’ refers to both formal andinformal unions. Informal unions are those in which a man and a woman stay together, intending tohave a lasting relationship, even if a formal, civil, or religious ceremony has not been conducted. The2007-08 THMIS describes marital status in three broad categories—never married, currently married,and formerly married (i.e., widowed, divorced, or separated).Table 3.5 shows the percent distribution of women and men by current marital status and agegroup. About two-thirds of women (64 percent) age 15-49 are currently married compared with 53percent of men. About 24 percent of women and 42 percent of men have never been married. Theproportion of women and men currently in union increases with age. Figure 3.2 shows the distributionof respondents by marital status.Table 3.5 Current marital statusPercent distribution of women and men age 15-49 by current marital status, according to age,Tanzania HMIS 2007-08AgeNevermarriedMarital statusCurrentlymarriedFormerlymarriedTotalPercentage ofrespondentsever marriedNumber ofrespondentsWOMEN15-19 77.0 21.3 1.8 100.0 23.0 1,98420-24 23.0 68.2 8.8 100.0 77.0 1,74625-29 8.4 78.5 13.1 100.0 91.6 1,60330-34 5.7 77.9 16.5 100.0 94.3 1,34635-39 3.1 80.5 16.4 100.0 96.9 1,17540-44 2.2 75.8 22.0 100.0 97.8 77445-49 2.8 74.4 22.8 100.0 97.2 714Total 23.7 64.0 12.3 100.0 76.3 9,343MEN15-19 98.1 1.4 0.5 100.0 1.9 1,76820-24 68.1 28.1 3.8 100.0 31.9 1,14825-29 27.3 66.7 6.0 100.0 72.7 1,00430-34 7.5 84.7 7.8 100.0 92.5 1,00435-39 4.2 89.4 6.4 100.0 95.8 84240-44 3.6 87.0 9.4 100.0 96.4 62845-49 1.2 92.1 6.7 100.0 98.8 581Total 42.0 53.1 4.9 100.0 58.0 6,975There are marked differentials in marital status by age group and sex; 21 percent of womenage 15-19 are currently married compared with 1 percent of men the same age.30 | Characteristics of Respondents