Does wealth status influence sexual partnership among Nigerian men?

Sexuality is an important human phenomenon which is influenced by interaction of biological, psychological, social, cultural or religious factors. Many studies in sub-Saharan Africa have shown that multiple sexual partnerships contribute to the spread of HIV despite the high knowledge of HIV/AIDS transmission routes. Past studies on sexual behaviours in Nigeria have focused on women and adolescents while men’s sexuality has not been adequately explored. This study used data extracted from 2007 National HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health Survey of sexually active Nigerian men aged 15-64years to investigate correlates and pattern of sexual partnership among men in Nigeria using multilevel logistic regression models. The findings indicate that individual characteristics such as ever use of condom, occupation, marital status influenced sexual behaviour of men compared to their contextual characteristics. Compared to men in the poorest group, moderately rich men were more likely to have multiple (OR=1.10, 95%CI=0.93-1.30) and non-regular sexual partners (OR=1.05, 95%CI=0.89-1.25). To promote safe and healthy sexuality among Nigerian men, behavioural intervention on sexual partnership targeting on individuals especially those in the middle class should be incorporated in the reproductive health policies.