MH Reporter
A research conducted in Nairobi in a few years ago revealed shocking statistics.
According to the research done by IPOS at the time, 25% of married men in Nairobi were engaging in unprotected sex with their secret mistresses.
To put the percentage into perspective, this is higher than the 14 percent of new infections among sex workers and their clients – at the time.
A previous National Aids and STI Control Programme (NASCOP) showed that 44 per cent of all new HIV infections in Nairobi occur among married couples and in stable relationships.
Mary who has been married for six years told Mwanahabari that she has been using protection with her husband ever since she found him cheating.
“I have been using protection for seven months ever since I found text messages between him and a woman who works at a salon,” she says.
Mary says she cannot walk out of the marriage because she has children.
“I have invested a lot in this marriage to just walk out and leave all my hardwork to another woman to enjoy,” she says.
One wonders why a married man would have unprotected sex, risking both his life and that of his wife.
Bernard who has been married for three years says he has had unprotected sex with his ex-girlfriend despite being married.
He says that his ex-girlfriend is married.
“It’s not just the married men who have unprotected sex out here, even married women do it,” says Bernard who blames it on familiarity.
“You will use a condom the first few weeks of your meeting, but then you will find yourself discarding the rubber after bringing close and gaining trust,” he says.
He however agrees that it’s dangerous for married men and women to engage in unprotected sex out there as it risks the health of the family.
The research by Ipos was commissioned by The Nairobian Newspaper.