Widows and "Professional Inheritors": Understanding AIDS Risk Perceptions in Kenya

Nancy Luke, University of Pennsylvania

Among the Luo of Kenya, widows have traditionally been inherited, "remarried" to a local clansman, who supports them socially and financially. Uninherited women, in contrast, need numerous sexual partners to support themselves economically. In the era of AIDS, we would expect uninherited widows to perceive themselves at higher risk of AIDS. Contrary to this hypothesis, regression results from a survey of the Luo find that inherited widows are significantly more likely to perceive themselves at high risk of AIDS. Further qualitative investigation explains this finding: Inherited widows fear they have contracted AIDS from "professional inheritors," young men who inherit numerous women in order to acquire the wealth of deceased husbands. The prevalence of "professionals" is believed to have increased in recent years, and these men are presumed to be particularly risky. While uninherited widows engage in unprotected sexual relations with multiple partners, they are not as fearful of contracting AIDS.