title: HIV risk among MSM in Senegal: a qualitative rapid assessment of the impact of enforcing laws that criminalize same sex practices.
abstract: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk for HIV in Senegal, with a prevalence of 21.5%. In December 2008, nine male HIV prevention workers were imprisoned for "acts against nature" prohibited by Senegalese law. This qualitative study assessed the impact of these arrests on HIV prevention efforts. A purposive sample of MSM in six regions of Senegal was recruited by network referral. 26 in-depth interviews (IDIs) and 6 focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in July-August 2009. 14 key informants were also interviewed. All participants reported pervasive fear and hiding among MSM as a result of the December 2008 arrests and publicity. Service providers suspended HIV prevention work with MSM out of fear for their own safety. Those who continued to provide services noticed a sharp decline in MSM participation. An effective response to the HIV epidemic in Senegal should include active work to decrease enforcement of this law.
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America. tpoteat@jhsph.edu
authors.forename: Tonia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Poteat
authors.forename: Daouda
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Diouf
authors.forename: Fatou Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Drame
authors.forename: Marieme
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ndaw
authors.forename: Cheikh
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Traore
authors.forename: Mandeep
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dhaliwal
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beyrer
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baral
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003416:Criminal Law / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D012675:Senegal / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult