Gender aspects on HIV prevention efforts and participation in HIV vaccine trials among Police officers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

BackgroundFor more than three decades, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) continue to dominate the health agenda. In sub-Saharan African countries, women are at more risk of contracting HIV and AIDS compared with men due to biological, social, economic, socio-economic and cultural factors. Women in the uniformed services may be more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS because of their work context, mobility, age and other factors that expose them to a higher risk of infection than women in the general population. This article describes gender dimensions, motives and challenges towards HIV prevention amongst Police officers (POs) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.MethodsThis was a descriptive qualitative study conducted at Police stations in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Fifteen in-depth interviews were conducted on POs; seven men, and eight women. Content analysis approach was used to analyze data.ResultsParticipants’ self-descriptions shed light on gender differences in relation to self -perceptions, job contexts, sexual relationships and HIV prevention. Both men and women perceived themselves as role models, and believed that the surrounding community perceived the same. Safe sexual behavior appeared crucial to avoid undesirable health outcomes. Risky sexual practices were considered avoidable. Under unavoidable sexual temptations, women in particular would be keen to avoid risky sexual practices. Some participants expressed positive views towards condoms use during extra-marital sexual relationships, while others had negative opinions. Early phases of HIV vaccine trials appeared to gain support from sexual partners. However, condom use during phase I/II HIV vaccine trials was deemed as difficult. Support from the spouse was reported to influence condom use outside the wedlock. However, religious beliefs, socio-cultural issues and individual reasons were perceived as difficulties to promote condoms use.ConclusionsThese findings increase understanding of gender differences and context specific efforts towards HIV prevention. Individuals’ assertiveness against risky sexual practices and the intention to participate in HIV vaccine trials to develop an effective vaccine are worth noting. Nevertheless, uncertainties towards condoms use underscore the importance of condoms’ marketing particularly in extra marital sexual relationships and during early HIV vaccine trials.

Sexual Behaviours and Practices before and after Phase I/II HIV Vaccine Trial: A Qualitative Study among Volunteers in Dar es Salaam Tanzania

“…The reason for this high sexual impulse is different between males and females [ 36 ] and may be attributed to physiological factors. Despite risky sexual practices due to their young age as reported by the informants in the current study, the behavior could be changed if appropriate safer sex education is provided as reported in the previous studies [ 28 , 29 ]. Unprotected sexual practices among informants could have been caused by the attitudes and perceptions towards condoms use [ 37 , 38 ].…”

“…We recruited informants who participated in HIVIS 03, a phase I/II HIV vaccine trial between 2007 and 2010. All the informants were police officers [ 29 , 30 ]. Police officers were chosen for this particular HIV vaccine trial because they were considered a low-risk population and most of them had secondary education capable of making independent informed decisions [ 31 ].…”

“…We developed these questions based on the previous findings [ 29 , 30 ] to get a deeper understanding of the participants’ sexual behavior before and after the trial. Specific probes followed these questions.…”

Personal experiences following acquiring HIV infection while volunteering in Phase I/II HIV vaccine trials: A qualitative study from Tanzania

“…EAMT, a female with PhD and a Lecturer at the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), has been trained in qualitative research methods and has been teaching short courses on qualitative research methods to both undergraduate and postgraduate students for more than three years. She participated in the weekly research meetings and conducted a series of research in the HIVIS-03 project [24][25][26][30][31][32][33][34][35]. Participants for the current research were purposefully recruited through the HIV vaccine trial clinic at MUHAS in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.…”