U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

Polygamous

MedGen UID:
281032
•Concept ID:
C1551028
•
Finding
Synonym: Polygamous Status

Definition

A type of living arrangement or mating system in which at least one member of a relationship has more than one mate. [from NCI]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVPolygamous

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Women diagnosed with HIV and unknown HIV status perceived susceptibility to cervical cancer and perceived benefits of cervical cancer screening in Ghana: a cross-sectional study.
Enyan NIE, Akaba S, Amoo SA
BMC Womens Health 2021 Oct 17;21(1):367. doi: 10.1186/s12905-021-01509-9. PMID: 34657607Free PMC Article
Health and psychosocial complaints of elderly Ijaw widows in Yenagoa, Nigeria.
Ogungbamila B, Adeyanju AB
Gerontology 2010;56(2):200-7. Epub 2009 Oct 21 doi: 10.1159/000251713. PMID: 19844079
Risk assessment and other screening options for gonorrhoea and chlamydial infections in women attending rural Tanzanian antenatal clinics.
Mayaud P, Grosskurth H, Changalucha J, Todd J, West B, Gabone R, Senkoro K, Rusizoka M, Laga M, Hayes R
Bull World Health Organ 1995;73(5):621-30. PMID: 8846488Free PMC Article

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

The psychosexual and psychosocial impacts of polygamous marriages: a cross-sectional study among Somali women.
Barut A, Mohamud SA
BMC Womens Health 2023 Dec 13;23(1):669. doi: 10.1186/s12905-023-02830-1. PMID: 38093249Free PMC Article
Contraceptive utilization and associated factors among polygamous and monogamous women in Worebabo Woreda, South Wollo Zone, Ethiopia: a comparative cross sectional study.
Asrese ET, Adem YF
BMC Womens Health 2023 Jan 30;23(1):39. doi: 10.1186/s12905-023-02180-y. PMID: 36710331Free PMC Article
Psychological impact of polygamous marriage on women and children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Shaiful Bahari I, Norhayati MN, Nik Hazlina NH, Mohamad Shahirul Aiman CAA, Nik Muhammad Arif NA
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021 Dec 13;21(1):823. doi: 10.1186/s12884-021-04301-7. PMID: 34903212Free PMC Article
Mate Choice and the Persistence of Maternal Mortality.
Jagadeeshan S, Gomes AK, Singh RS
Reprod Sci 2019 Apr;26(4):450-458. Epub 2018 Dec 13 doi: 10.1177/1933719118812730. PMID: 30545276Free PMC Article
A comparison of family functioning, life and marital satisfaction, and mental health of women in polygamous and monogamous marriages.
Al-Krenawi A, Graham JR
Int J Soc Psychiatry 2006 Jan;52(1):5-17. doi: 10.1177/00207640060061245. PMID: 16463591

Diagnosis

Clinical Implications of HIV Treatment and Prevention for Polygamous Families in Kenya and Uganda: "My Co-Wife Is the One Who Used to Encourage Me".
Johnson-Peretz J, Onyango A, Gutin SA, Balzer L, Akatukwasa C, Owino L, Arunga TMO, Atwine F, Petersen M, Kamya M, Ayieko J, Ruel T, Havlir D, Camlin CS
J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care 2024 Jan-Dec;23:23259582241255171. doi: 10.1177/23259582241255171. PMID: 38751360Free PMC Article
Prevalence of mental health problems in women in polygamous versus monogamous marriages: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Rahmanian P, Munawar K, Mukhtar F, Choudhry FR
Arch Womens Ment Health 2021 Jun;24(3):339-351. Epub 2020 Oct 1 doi: 10.1007/s00737-020-01070-8. PMID: 33000343
Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Intimate Partner Violence in the First 6 Months Following HIV Diagnosis Among a Population-Based Sample in Rural Uganda.
Ogbonnaya IN, Wanyenze RK, Reed E, Silverman JG, Kiene SM
AIDS Behav 2020 Apr;24(4):1252-1265. doi: 10.1007/s10461-019-02673-8. PMID: 31538284Free PMC Article
A comparison study of psychological, family function marital and life satisfactions of polygamous and monogamous women in Jordan.
Al-Krenawi A, Graham JR, Al Gharaibeh F
Community Ment Health J 2011 Oct;47(5):594-602. Epub 2011 May 15 doi: 10.1007/s10597-011-9405-x. PMID: 21573772
Mental health aspects of Turkish women from polygamous versus monogamous families.
Ozkan M, Altindag A, Oto R, Sentunali E
Int J Soc Psychiatry 2006 May;52(3):214-20. doi: 10.1177/0020764006067207. PMID: 16875193

Therapy

Adolescent pregnancy in Sao Tome and Principe: a cross-sectional hospital-based study.
Vasconcelos A, Bandeira N, Sousa S, Pereira F, Machado MDC
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022 Apr 15;22(1):332. doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-04632-z. PMID: 35428214Free PMC Article
Immune Correlates of Disease Progression in Linked HIV-1 Infection.
Tuen M, Bimela JS, Banin AN, Ding S, Harkins GW, Weiss S, Itri V, Durham AR, Porcella SF, Soni S, Mayr L, Meli J, Torimiro JN, Tongo M, Wang X, Kong XP, Nádas A, Kaufmann DE, Brumme ZL, Nanfack AJ, Quinn TC, Zolla-Pazner S, Redd AD, Finzi A, Gorny MK, Nyambi PN, Duerr R
Front Immunol 2019;10:1062. Epub 2019 May 14 doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01062. PMID: 31139189Free PMC Article
Socio-demographic and behavioural profile of women in polygamous relationships in South Africa: a retrospective analysis of the 2002 population-based household survey data.
Mabaso MLH, Malope NF, Simbayi LC
BMC Womens Health 2018 Aug 2;18(1):133. doi: 10.1186/s12905-018-0626-9. PMID: 30068320Free PMC Article
The relationship between monogamous/polygamous family structure and the mental health of bedouin Arab adolescents.
Elbedour S, Bart W, Hektner J
J Adolesc 2007 Apr;30(2):213-30. Epub 2006 Apr 11 doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2006.02.003. PMID: 16581119
Parent-adolescent conflict and its resolution in monogamous and polygamous Bedouin Arab families in southern Israel.
Elbedour S, Hektner JM, Morad M, Abu-Bader SH
ScientificWorldJournal 2003 Dec 5;3:1249-64. doi: 10.1100/tsw.2003.99. PMID: 14665739Free PMC Article

Prognosis

Polygamous Interest in a Mononormative Nation: The Roles of Sex and Sociosexuality in Polygamous Interest in a Heterosexual Sample from the UK.
Thomas AG, Harrison S, Mogilski JK, Stewart-Williams S, Workman L
Arch Sex Behav 2024 Feb;53(2):611-627. Epub 2023 Nov 29 doi: 10.1007/s10508-023-02749-6. PMID: 38030825
High-risk fertility behaviours among women in sub-Saharan Africa.
Seidu AA, Ahinkorah BO, Anjorin SS, Tetteh JK, Hagan JE, Zegeye B, Adu-Gyamfi AB, Yaya S
J Public Health (Oxf) 2023 Mar 14;45(1):21-31. doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdab381. PMID: 34850201
The Effects of Marital Status, Fertility, and Bereavement on Adult Mortality in Polygamous and Monogamous Households: Evidence From the Utah Population Database.
Barclay KJ, Thorén RD, Hanson HA, Smith KR
Demography 2020 Dec;57(6):2169-2198. doi: 10.1007/s13524-020-00918-z. PMID: 32935302Free PMC Article
Pregnancy Incidence and Fertility Desires Among Couples by HIV Status in Rakai, Uganda.
Brahmbhatt H, Santelli J, Kaagayi J, Lutalo T, Serwadda D, Makumbi F
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2019 Apr 15;80(5):494-502. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000001951. PMID: 30664614
Mate Choice and the Persistence of Maternal Mortality.
Jagadeeshan S, Gomes AK, Singh RS
Reprod Sci 2019 Apr;26(4):450-458. Epub 2018 Dec 13 doi: 10.1177/1933719118812730. PMID: 30545276Free PMC Article

Clinical prediction guides

Polygamous Interest in a Mononormative Nation: The Roles of Sex and Sociosexuality in Polygamous Interest in a Heterosexual Sample from the UK.
Thomas AG, Harrison S, Mogilski JK, Stewart-Williams S, Workman L
Arch Sex Behav 2024 Feb;53(2):611-627. Epub 2023 Nov 29 doi: 10.1007/s10508-023-02749-6. PMID: 38030825
The psychosexual and psychosocial impacts of polygamous marriages: a cross-sectional study among Somali women.
Barut A, Mohamud SA
BMC Womens Health 2023 Dec 13;23(1):669. doi: 10.1186/s12905-023-02830-1. PMID: 38093249Free PMC Article
High-risk fertility behaviours among women in sub-Saharan Africa.
Seidu AA, Ahinkorah BO, Anjorin SS, Tetteh JK, Hagan JE, Zegeye B, Adu-Gyamfi AB, Yaya S
J Public Health (Oxf) 2023 Mar 14;45(1):21-31. doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdab381. PMID: 34850201
Sociodemographic variables and depression in Turkish women from polygamous versus monogamous families.
Özer A, Orhan FÖ, Ekerbiçer HÇ
Health Care Women Int 2013;34(11):1024-34. Epub 2013 Feb 27 doi: 10.1080/07399332.2012.692414. PMID: 23445340
Scholastic achievement and family marital structure: Bedouin-Arab adolescents from monogamous and polygamous families in Israel.
Elbedour S, Bart WM, Hektner JM
J Soc Psychol 2000 Aug;140(4):503-14. doi: 10.1080/00224540009600488. PMID: 10981378

Recent systematic reviews

Psychological impact of polygamous marriage on women and children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Shaiful Bahari I, Norhayati MN, Nik Hazlina NH, Mohamad Shahirul Aiman CAA, Nik Muhammad Arif NA
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021 Dec 13;21(1):823. doi: 10.1186/s12884-021-04301-7. PMID: 34903212Free PMC Article
Prevalence of mental health problems in women in polygamous versus monogamous marriages: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Rahmanian P, Munawar K, Mukhtar F, Choudhry FR
Arch Womens Ment Health 2021 Jun;24(3):339-351. Epub 2020 Oct 1 doi: 10.1007/s00737-020-01070-8. PMID: 33000343
Is polygyny a risk factor in the transmission of HIV in sub- Saharan Africa? A systematic review.
Gazimbi MM, Magadi MA, Onyango-Ouma W, Walker E, Cresswell RB, Kaseje M, Wafula CO
Afr J Reprod Health 2020 Dec;24(4):198-212. doi: 10.29063/ajrh2020/v24i4.20. PMID: 34077084

Supplemental Content

Table of contents

    Practice guidelines

    • PubMed
      See practice and clinical guidelines in PubMed. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.
    • Bookshelf
      See practice and clinical guidelines in NCBI Bookshelf. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.

    Related information

    • PMC Articles
      Related information in PubMed Central Links
    • PubMed
      Related literature resources in PubMed

    Recent activity

    Clear Turn Off Turn On

    Your browsing activity is empty.

    Activity recording is turned off.

    Turn recording back on

    See more...