Changing Marriage and Cohabitation Patterns in Rural Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa

Victoria Hosegood, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Eleanor Preston-Whyte, University of Natal

The Africa Centre Demographic Information System (ACDIS) collects thrice yearly demographic and health data from 85,000 members in 11,033 households in a rural area of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Using data from the year 2000, 75% of adults 18 years and older were currently not married. Younger cohorts report a significant decline in marriage, 46% have never been married by age 40-44. Cohabitation of non-marital couples in this area is low, of currently not married women (9%) and men (8%) were cohabiting. Marriage is an important determinant of sexual relationships (and by inference HIV prevalence - currently 42% in antenatal clinics in our survey area), fertility, parenting, social networks and economic resources. Interviews with adults aged 18-40 found that the changing marital patterns most likely reflect changing attitudes to lobola, marriage and parenting, altered life course expectations, labor migration, and women's fears about marriage.