Title: Gender and Infidelity Patterns: A Cross-Cultural Analysis with Focus on Uganda
Authors: Asiimwe Isaac Kazaara, Ahumuza Audrey
Volume: 9
Issue: 11
Pages: 306-314
Publication Date: 2025/11/28
Abstract:
This mixed-methods study examined gender-specific patterns, motivations, and consequences of infidelity in Uganda within a cross-cultural framework. A total of 1,248 participants (624 men and 624 women) aged 18-65 years were recruited through multi-stage cluster sampling across Uganda's four regions, with data collected using structured questionnaires, 48 in-depth interviews, and 12 focus group discussions conducted between March and August 2024. Quantitative analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, binary logistic regression, and survival analysis, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Results revealed that men reported significantly higher infidelity prevalence (34.9%) compared to women (14.9%, p < 0.001), with men predominantly engaging in sexual infidelity and women in emotional infidelity, and this gender gap was more pronounced than in Western contexts. Urban residence increased infidelity odds six-fold for men and four-fold for women. Logistic regression demonstrated that economic resources, social tolerance, and economic power predicted male infidelity, while relationship dissatisfaction and partner's infidelity were stronger predictors for women. Women experienced dramatically more severe consequences including higher relationship dissolution rates (62.4% vs. 30.7%, p < 0.001), greater psychological distress with depression and guilt scores significantly elevated, overwhelming social stigma (84.9% vs. 40.8%, p < 0.001), intimate partner violence (50.5% vs. 10.6%, p < 0.001), and catastrophic economic impacts including loss of financial support (55.9% vs. 8.3%, p < 0.001) and housing (44.1% vs. 3.7%, p < 0.001). Female partners of unfaithful men had limited ability to negotiate safe sex (29.8%) compared to male partners of unfaithful women (87.1%, p < 0.001), indicating continued vulnerability. The study concluded that infidelity in Uganda operated within deeply patriarchal structures that facilitated and tolerated male extramarital behavior while severely punishing women's sexual autonomy through multidimensional sanctions, with implications for HIV prevention, gender equality initiatives, and relationship counseling requiring gender-transformative approaches addressing structural inequalities rather than only individual behaviors.