Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

HIV and Related Risk Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Zanzibar, Tanzania: Results of a Behavioral Surveillance Survey

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
AIDS and Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We conducted a respondent driven sampling survey to estimate HIV prevalence and risk behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Unguja, Zanzibar. Men aged ≥15 years living in Unguja and reporting anal sex with another man in the past 3 months were asked to complete a questionnaire and provide specimens for biologic testing. HIV prevalence was 12.3% (95% confidence interval 8.7, 16.3). HIV infection was associated with injecting drugs in the past 3 months, Hepatitis C virus infection and being paid for sex in the past year. Interventions for MSM in Zanzibar are needed and should include linkages to prevention, care and treatment services.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Smith AD, Tapsoba P, Peshu N, Sanders EJ, Jaffe HW. Men who have sex with men and HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Lancet. 2009. [Epub ahead of print].

  2. Lane T, Raymond HF, Dladla S, et al. High HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men in Soweto, South Africa: results from the Soweto men’s study. AIDS Behav. 2009. [Epub ahead of print].

  3. Kajubi P, Kamya M, Raymond H, et al. Gay and bisexual men in Kampala, Uganda. AIDS Behav. 2008;12(3):492–504.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Sanders E, Graham S, Okuku H, et al. HIV-1 infection in high risk men who have sex with men in Mombasa, Kenya. AIDS. 2007;21(18):2513–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Wade A, Kane C, Diallo P, et al. HIV infection and sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men in Senegal. AIDS. 2005;19(18):2133–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Tanzania Commissionfor AIDS (TACAIDS), Zanzibar AIDS Commission (ZAC), National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Office of the Chief Government Statistician (OCGS), Macro International Inc. Tanzania HIV/AIDS and Malaria Indicator Survey 2007–08. Dar es Salaam: TACAIDS, ZAC, NBS, OCGS, and Macro International Inc; 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Zanzibar Ministry of Health, Social Welfare, Zanzibar AIDS Control Programme. Report on HIV sentinel surveillance for pregnant women using a PMTCT approach in Zanzibar 2008. Republic of Tanzania: Zanzibar; 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Dahoma M, Salim A, Abdool R, et al. HIV and substance abuse: the dual epidemics challenging Zanzibar. Afr J Drug Alcohol Stud. 2006;5(2):130–9.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Heckathorn D. Respondent driven sampling II: deriving valid population estimates from Chain-referral samples of hidden populations. Soc Probl. 2002; 49(1):11–34.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Heckathorn D. Respondent driven sampling: a new approach to the study of hidden populations. Soc Probl. 1997;44(2):174–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Johnston LG, Malekinejad M, Kendall C, Iuppa IM, Rutherford GW. Implementation challenges to using respondent-driven sampling methodology for HIV biological and behavioral surveillance: field experiences in international settings. AIDS Behav. 2008;12(Suppl 1):131–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Timpson S, McCurdy S, Leshabari MT, et al. Substance abuse, HIV risk and HIV/AIDS in Tanzania. Afr J Drug Alcohol Stud. 2006;5(2):158–69.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Dr. Keith Sabin for his critical guidance in the design and implementation of this activity. The authors also thank the study participants for their time and the study staff for their commitment during planning and implementation. This study was funded in part by the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

US CDC Disclaimer

The findings and conclusions in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrea A. Kim.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dahoma, M., Johnston, L.G., Holman, A. et al. HIV and Related Risk Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Zanzibar, Tanzania: Results of a Behavioral Surveillance Survey. AIDS Behav 15, 186–192 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-009-9646-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-009-9646-7

Keywords

Navigation