The Men, Internet, and Sex with Men Study was a qualitative inquiry into how men who have sex with men (MSM) use the Internet in their sexual lives. The study responds to calls for HIV prevention to become more resonant with men’s online experiences. Men’s use of the Internet in their sexual lives was explored through structural interactionist and social risk theories. The study was a focused ethnography, drawing on semi-structured interviews with 23 MSM from the Greater Toronto Area. The sample included men aged 20 to 61, from a variety of sexual orientations (gay, bisexual, and heterosexual) and HIV statuses. Data analysis focused on the contextual aspects of men’s use of the Internet for sexual purposes and their sexual risk behaviour. This study focused on how men’s use of the Internet for sexual purposes was situated within and influenced by the contexts of their use. The participants’ online experiences were socially-situated from the outset: men saw the Internet as a “solution” to challenges in their sexual lives; their online interactions were structured by online rules of engagement and discourse from the offline gay community; and their sexual risk behaviour was mediated by social context and sexual interactions. The participants’ stories revealed the existence of an online subculture for sex seeking. Men also talked about the links between their online and offline experiences, where the Internet played a role in developing their sexuality but could also foster isolation and addiction. The men emphasized the importance of online HIV prevention and offered suggestions on how prevention more generally might be improved. The Internet holds both promise and pitfalls for HIV prevention. The findings from this study underline the need for prevention efforts that focus on individual- and structural-level prevention which can respond to men’s experiences both online and offline.

Background: Good knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of HIV prevention are essential in order not to acquire HIV infection and to prevent the disease from spreading. A proper and well functioning prevention of HIV requires clear and relevant information and instructions from health care givers. Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning HIV prevention among Burmese migrant workers in Thailand and compare these between genders. Method: A descriptive and comparative cross-section design with a quantitative method was used. The Health belief model was provided as theoretical framework. The data was collected at two fish industries and at the health clinics of these industries in the Samut Sakorn Province, Thailand. Eighty migrant workers participated by answering a questionnaire about KAP of HIV prevention. Results: Most of the Burmese migrant workers had heard of HIV/AIDS, and overall women had better knowledge than men. Less than 50% of the men reported they had ever received information on HIV. There were significant differences between genders in several statements concerning knowledge, attitudes and practices. Conclusions: The male and female Burmese migrant workers had different knowledge, attitudes and practice of HIV prevention. Health care professionals should consider gender and culture when providing intervention programs to migrant workers. / Bakgrund: Goda kunskaper, attityder och utövande (KAP) av HIV prevention är av stor vikt för att ej smittas av HIV och för att förhindra att sjukdomen sprids. En korrekt och välfungerande prevention av HIV kräver tydlig och relevant information och instruktioner från hälso- och sjukvården. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka kunskap, attityder och utövande av HIV prevention bland invandrade burmesiska arbetare I Thailand, och jämföra dessa mellan kön. Metod: En beskrivande och jämförande tvärsnittsdesign med kvantitativ metod har använts. The Health belief model användes som teoretiskt ramverk. Data samlades in vid två fiskeindustrierna och deras hälsoklinik i Samut Sakorn provinsen, Bangkok, Thailand. Åttio invandrade arbetare deltog genom att besvara ett frågeformulär om KAP av HIV prevention. Resultat: De flesta invandrade burmesiska arbetarna hade hört talas om HIV/AIDS, och generellt hade kvinnorna bättre kunskap än männen. Mindre än 50% av männen rapporterade att det någonsin hade fått information om HIV. Det var en signifikant skillnad mellan könen i flera av påståendena om kunskap, attityder och utövande.  Slutsats: De manliga och kvinnliga invandrade burmesiska arbetarna hade olika kunskaper, attityder och utövande av HIV prevention. Hälso- och sjukvårdspersonalen bör överväga genus och kultur vid tillhandahållande av interventionsprogram för invandrade arbetare.

Black South Africans account for a majority of HIV cases in South Africa, and there is thus a need for greater understanding of protective factors specific to this group. Within the HIV prevention and risk literature, little information exists regarding the familial and neuropsychological contributions to HIV prevention in youth. The current study addressed this gap. In a group of black South African parent-child dyads, we explored factors contributing to the development of pre-adolescents’ protective attitudes in the context of a family-based HIV prevention intervention, named Imbadu Ekhaya (IE), which translates to “communication in the home,” in Xhosa. As expected, the intervention increased communication practices among parents and children. However, child attitudes were not affected by the intervention through either of the two proposed mediators, parent-child communication or parent attitudes about child sexuality. Furthermore, child executive functioning did not play a role in the relationship between parent-child communication and child sexual attitudes measured 6 months post intervention. Results indicated that the intervention improved communication practices between parents and children, but the impact of such interventions on child outcomes should be explored further.

Objective: The substantial prevalence of HIV in Africa underscores the urgent need for effective HIV prevention programs. This paper reports the results of an effectiveness trial for the I Choose Life-Africa (ICL) HIV prevention program carried out among Kenyan university students.Methods: Longitudinal data was analyzed from182 student volunteers, randomized to an intervention or control group. The intervention group received training as HIV prevention peer educators with a 32 hour theoretically based curriculum. All students were given a pretest survey assessing HIV related attitudes, intentions, knowledge and behaviors and repeated the survey 3 times over the next 6 months. Data was analyzed using Linear Mixed Models (LMM) or Generalized Linear Models (GLM) to compare the rate of change on 13 dependent variables that examined sexual risk behavior (broadly defined). Monitoring data on the types of HIV prevention messages delivered by the peer educators was obtained.Results: Based on multi level models, the slope coefficients for 4 variables showed small but reliable change in the hoped for direction: abstinence from oral, vaginal, or anal sex in the last two months, condom attitudes, HIV testing, and refusal skill. The intervention demonstrated evidence of non-zero slope coefficients in the hoped for direction on 12 of 13 dependent variables. Trained peer educators delivered HIV prevention messages in a one- to- one format 1,862 times and reached 1,819 students through small group sessions. Messages were delivered at larger group thematic sessions that were attended by a total of 5,970 persons. Condom distribution projects resulted in 3,742 male and 796 female condoms being distributed, and 268 individuals were referred for HIV testing.Conclusion: The ICL peer education training appears effective in reducing sexual risk behavior and training students to promote HIV prevention messages.

<p><font size="4" face="TrebuchetMS,BoldItalic"><font size="4" face="TrebuchetMS,BoldItalic"> <p>The study used a qualitative approach. Fourteen (14) in-depth interviews were conducted with English and Luganda speaking adult male and female clients on antiretroviral treatment (ART), in TASO Mulago. A focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted with 8 purposively selected ART clients who were considered to be &lsquo / expert&rsquo / clients in TASO Mulago. These participants were expert clients/ peer educators, who were open about their HIV status and have been involved in HIV/AIDS education and advocacy. The individual interviews and the focus group discussion were transcribed verbatim, and subjected to thematic and content analysis. Male and female participants who were married (primary relationship) disclosed their sero-status to their sexual partners, while few of those cohabiting or in steady relationship (only one) disclosed to their partners. Enabling factors to disclose to current sexual partners included: desire for partner to get treatment, need for the partner&rsquo / s support, having prior knowledge of partner&rsquo / s HIV status, out of anger, and having anxiety about the future. Some of the barriers to disclosure included: fear of blame and disappointing the partner, fear of abandonment, fear of stigma and discrimination. Participants suggested that couple counselling and testing, economic independence, peer support and involvement of the TASO staff in disclosure should be considered to facilitate or promote disclosure to sexual partners.</p> </font></font></p>

Magister Public Health - MPH / The increased number of new infections in Uganda necessitates HIV prevention programmes that address risky behaviours especially among heterosexual populations. The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) is the largest indigenous HIV/AIDS agency serving Uganda and the Great Lakes Region. TASO endeavours to empower sexually active clients to disclose their sero-status to their sexual partners and promotes partner testing for HIV. In spite of these efforts, only 12% of 2,071 sexually active clients in Mulago centre had disclosed by the end of 2006. This study aimed to explore the factors that influence clients’ decisions to disclose their HIV status to their partners in TASO Mulago, Kampala, Uganda. The study used a qualitative approach. Fourteen (14) in-depth interviews were conducted with English and Luganda speaking adult male and female clients on antiretroviral treatment (ART), in TASO Mulago. A focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted with 8 purposively selected ART clients who were considered to be ‘expert’ clients in TASO Mulago. These participants were expert clients/ peer educators, who were open about their HIV status and have been involved in HIV/AIDS education and advocacy. The individual interviews and the focus group discussion were transcribed verbatim, and subjected to thematic and content analysis. Male and female participants who were married (primary relationship) disclosed their sero-status to their sexual partners, while few of those cohabiting or in steady relationship (only one) disclosed to their partners. Enabling factors to disclose to current sexual partners included: desire for partner to get treatment, need for the partner’s support, having prior knowledge of partner’s HIV status, out of anger, and having anxiety about the future. Some of the barriers to disclosure included: fear of blame and disappointing the partner, fear of abandonment, fear of stigma and discrimination Participants suggested that couple counselling and testing, economic independence, peer support and involvement of the TASO staff in disclosure should be considered to facilitate or promote disclosure to sexual partners.While strategies like HBHCT and couple counselling have enhanced disclosure among sexual partners on ART living together in stable married relationships (primary), the partners in secondary relationships (cohabiting and steady) especially women, continue to face challenges in disclosure yet their sexual partners are at risk of HIV infection. The study has re-affirmed the fact that while some people living with HIV/AIDS wish to disclose their HIV status to their partners, there are compound factors that make it difficult to disclose. This calls for effective strategies by government, TASO and other agencies to ensure that sexual partners especially in cohabiting and steady relationships are disclosed to in order to reduce their vulnerability to HIV infection.

Background The development of HIV preventive measures in Thailand has led to a decrease in prevalence in HIV-infected persons. During 2021 there was an estimated number of 520 000 people living with HIV in Thailand amongst adults over 15 years and an estimated number of 2000 children between 0 to 14 years old. Studies have shown that the current obstacles with HIV prevention in Thailand is correlated with HIV-related stigma and therefore being at risk to retrieve the infection. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and research groups, are important actors in HIV prevention.  Aim The aim of this study was to examine experiences of HIV preventive work in children, adolescents and young adults among staff in an HIV prevention-oriented organization and a research group in Thailand.  Method A qualitative design was used, and seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with a convenient selected sample. Participants were conveniently recruited from two different population groups, two participants from an HIV prevention-oriented organization and five participants from a research group in a clinical HIV-unit. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed through a content analysis with an inductive approach.  Results Three main categories were identified: Success factors in HIV prevention, Barriers to HIV prevention and Future directions. Eight subcategories were identified: Access to HIV testing, Access to information, Sharing experiences, Collaboration between agencies working with HIV prevention, Decrease in Stigma, Limitations in time and money, Difficulties in adherence to HIV prevention and Stigmatization in HIV. Conclusions HIV prevention needs to be more accessible. Today HIV testing is available for free, however, there are still obstacles to preventive work that ought to be considered, stigmatization and discrimination are such barriers. Future directions in preventive work are increased accessibility to HIV prevention.

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This study identified factors influencing the practice of HIV prevention behaviours amongst Tanzania youths. Structured interviews with in-school youths (n=222) and out-of school youths (n=150); and focus groups discussions with 25 youths were conducted to collect data. Although the level of HIV/AIDS awareness was 97.6% and 58.5% of the youths had positive attitudes towards HIV prevention, only 50.8% practised at least one mode of HIV prevention. Factors which promoted HIV prevention practices included positive attitudes towards specific preventive behaviours and the individual’s self-efficacy to enact such behaviours. The barriers against the practice of HIV prevention behaviours included the lack of comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS and HIV prevention, socio-economic issues such as unemployment, influx of mobile populations, loss of cultural values, negative social norms, peer pressure, alcohol abuse and the lack of adequate HIV preventive services. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

This study identified factors influencing the practice of HIV prevention behaviours amongst Tanzania youths. Structured interviews with in-school youths (n=222) and out-of school youths (n=150); and focus groups discussions with 25 youths were conducted to collect data. Although the level of HIV/AIDS awareness was 97.6% and 58.5% of the youths had positive attitudes towards HIV prevention, only 50.8% practised at least one mode of HIV prevention. Factors which promoted HIV prevention practices included positive attitudes towards specific preventive behaviours and the individual’s self-efficacy to enact such behaviours. The barriers against the practice of HIV prevention behaviours included the lack of comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS and HIV prevention, socio-economic issues such as unemployment, influx of mobile populations, loss of cultural values, negative social norms, peer pressure, alcohol abuse and the lack of adequate HIV preventive services. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)