The psychosexual and psychosocial impacts of polygamous marriages: a cross-sectional study among Somali women

BMC Women's Health

Table 1 Sociodemographic, psychosexual and psychosocial characteristics of Somali married women

	Mean ± SD	Count	Percent
Age of marriage (years)	20.0 ± 3.9
Current age	29.0 ± 6.9
Type of marriage
Monogamy		435	71.7
Polygamy		172	28.3
Two co-wives		114	66.3
Three co-wives		41	23.8
Four co-wives		17	9.9
Co-wives
First wife		68	39.5
Second co-wife		82	47.7
Third co-wife		17	9.9
Fourth co-wife		5	2.9
Residence
Rural		538	88.6
Urban		69	11.4
Education status
Illiterate		191	31.5
Primary school		99	16.3
Secondary and/or high school		189	31.1
University		127	21.1
Education status of the husband
Illiterate		147	24.2
Primary school		166	27.3
Secondary and/or high school		16	2.6
University		278	45.8
Family income ($ USA)
< 500		290	47.8
500–1000		296	48.8
> 1000		21	3.4
Arranged marriage		391	64.4
Sexual dysfunction **		363	59.8
RSE score*
Low self-esteem		482	79.4
Normal		125	20.6

*A RSE score of < 15 indicates low self-esteem. **A FSFI score of < 26.55 indicates sexual dysfunction

ISSN: 1472-6874