title: Lubricant use and condom use during anal sex in men who have sex with men in Tanzania.
abstract: The lack of data on condom and lubricant use among African men who have sex with men (MSM) hinders prevention efforts. We describe use, knowledge, and access to lubricants in Dar es Salaam and Tanga, Tanzania. Data were collected in 2012 and 2013 from a cross-sectional survey of 200 MSM in Dar es Salaam and 100 MSM in Tanga, Tanzania. The most common reason for not using condoms was dislike of condoms. Two-thirds of the men reported always using a lubricant for anal sex. Results showed that: fewer men who have sex with both men and women (MSMW) know about lubricants; more MSM look for, have difficulty finding, and find lubricants to be expensive; and MSM use lubricants to facilitate penetration. MSMW commonly receive their lubricants from their sexual partner, while MSM got them from friends and pharmacies. HIV-negative MSM used lubricants to facilitate penetration and reduce pain. HIV-positive MSM are likely to get their lubricants from pharmacies or friends. MSMW use Vaseline® significantly more than MSM as a lubricant. Results suggest that HIV prevention knowledge among MSM is greater, so HIV prevention efforts should emphasise carrying water-based lubricant among MSMW. Consequently, there is an opportunity to co-market condoms and water-based lubricants.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, the Netherlands k.romijnders@student.maastrichtuniversity.nl.
authors.forename: Kim Agj
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Romijnders
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania.
authors.forename: Joyce E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Nyoni
authors.affiliation: Program in Human Sexuality, Department of Family Medicine, University of Minnesota, MN USA.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, USA.
authors.forename: Sheryl A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: McCurdy
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Republic of Tanzania.
authors.forename: Jessie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mbwambo
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Gerjo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kok
authors.affiliation: CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rik
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crutzen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D054327:Lubricants; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013636:Tanzania; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D054327:Lubricants
keywords: HIV prevention; Sub-Saharan Africa; anal sex; gay men; lubricant; men who have sex with men