Victoria Hosegood
Nuala McGrath
Tom A. Moultrie

http://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol20/13/

doi:10.4054/DemRes.2009.20.13

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Abstract
This paper describes marriage and partnership patterns and trends in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa from 2000-2006. The study is based on longitudinal, population-based data collected by the Africa Centre demographic surveillance system. We consider whether the high rates of non-marriage among Africans in South Africa reported in the 1980s were reversed following the political transformation underway by the 1990s. Our findings show that marriage has continued to decline with a small increase in cohabitation among unmarried couples, particularly in more urbanised areas. Comparing surveillance and census data, we highlight problems with the use of the ‘living together’ marital status category in a highly mobile population.

Author's affiliation
Victoria Hosegood
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom
Nuala McGrath
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom
Tom A. Moultrie
University of Cape Town, South Africa

Keywords
cohabitation, demographic surveillance system, marriage, partnerships, South Africa, trends

Word count (Main text)
6448

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