Changes in male sexual behaviour in response to the AIDS epidemic: evidence from a cohort study in urban Tanzania.
OBJECTIVE
To examine changes in sexual behaviour among men in urban Tanzania.


METHODS
An observational cohort study among factory workers during 1991-1994.


METHODS
Data from five follow-up visits with structured questionnaire-guided interviews and biomedical data were analysed to examine trends in sexual behaviour and sexually transmitted disease/HIV among 752 men. In-depth interviews were conducted to evaluate the magnitude of reporting bias.


RESULTS
During the 2 years of observation, the proportion of men with more than one sexual partner during the month preceding the interview declined from 22.3 to 12.2%. The proportion of men reporting casual sex partners during the last month was almost halved: from 9.8 to 5.2%. The decline in the reporting of extramarital partners was gradual and pronounced. There were only minor changes in reported condom use, notably an increase in use with casual partners, and no changes in coital frequency. Data from in-depth interviews confirmed that reduction in sexual partners was the predominant change.


CONCLUSIONS
This study documents that, in response to the AIDS epidemic, changes in male sexual behaviour are taking place in urban areas in Africa. The predominant change among these men, who are predominantly married and aged over 25 years, is a reduction of the number of sexual partners, although condom use remains low.
Tanzania-Netherlands Project to Support AIDS Control in Mwanza Region (TANESA), Mwanza, Tanzania.
J Z
JZ
Ng'weshemi
J T
JT
Boerma
R
R
Pool
L
L
Barongo
K
K
Senkoro
M
M
Maswe
R
R
Isingo
D
D
Schapink
S
S
Nnko
M W
MW
Borgdorff
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003075:Coitus; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population