HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men following the implementation of the HIV preventive guideline in Tanzania: respondent-driven sampling survey

Abstract

ObjectivesTo estimate HIV prevalence and associated risk factors among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania following the implementation of the national comprehensive package of HIV interventions for key population (CHIP).DesignA cross-sectional survey using respondent-driven sampling.SettingDar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city.ParticipantsMen who occasionally or regularly have sex with another man, aged 18 years and above and living in Dar es Salaam city at least 6 months preceding the study.Primary outcome measureHIV prevalence was the primary outcome. Independent risk factors for HIV infection were examined using weighted logistics regression modelling.ResultsA total of 777 MSM with a mean age of 26 years took part in the study. The weighted HIV prevalence was 8.3% (95% CI: 6.3%–10.9%) as compared with 22.3% (95% CI: 18.7%–26.4%) observed in a similar survey in 2014. Half of the participants had had sex with more than two partners in the month preceding the survey. Among those who had engaged in transactional sex, 80% had used a condom during last anal sex with a paying partner. Participants aged 25 and above had four times higher odds of being infected than those aged 15–19 years. HIV infection was associated with multiple sexual partnerships (adjusted OR/AOR, 3.0; 95% CI: 1.8–12.0), not having used condom during last sex with non-paying partner (AOR, 4.1; 95% CI: 1.4–7.8) and ever having engaged in group sex (AOR, 3.4; 95% CI: 1.7–3.6).ConclusionHIV prevalence among MSM in Dar es Salaam has decreased by more than a half over the past 5 years, coinciding with implementation of the CHIP. It is nonetheless two times as high as that of men in the general population. To achieve the 2030 goal, behavioural change interventions and roll out of new intervention measures such as pre-exposure prophylaxis are urgently needed.

Seroprevalence of Human Herpesvirus Infections in Newly Diagnosed HIV-Infected Key Populations in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

“…A total of 262 stored serum samples and sociodemographic data (age and sex) from three cross-sectional integrated bio-behavioral surveys (IBBS) conducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, were analyzed [ 12 – 14 ]. The surveys were conducted from November 2017 to January 2018 following the implementation of the national comprehensive HIV intervention package (CHIP) for key populations in 2014.…”

“…The surveys were conducted from November 2017 to January 2018 following the implementation of the national comprehensive HIV intervention package (CHIP) for key populations in 2014. The surveys aimed to investigate HIV prevalence and other sexually transmitted infections (hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections and syphilis) and associated risk factors among MSM [ 12 ], PWID [ 13 ], and FSW [ 14 ] in the largest metropolitan city of Dar es Salaam.…”

“…In addition, this population is suitable for providing baseline data that will be used in further study that intends to assess the association between CMV and non-AIDS complications. The sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics of the participants have been previously reported [ 12 – 14 ]. The present study obtained ethical approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS).…”

“…In Tanzania, the prevalence of HIV among key populations is 3–6 times higher than that of the national average [ 1 , 12 – 14 ], making this group the most affected and important reservoir for HIV transmission to the general population. However, data on the seroepidemiological magnitude of HHV coinfections in HIV-infected key populations are scarce in Tanzania and SSA at large.…”

Not a Problem at All or Excluded by Oneself, Doctors and the Law? Healthcare Workers’ Perspectives on Access to HIV-Related Healthcare among Same-Sex Attracted Men in Tanzania

“…We chose to focus specifically on this because HIV remains such a prominent health challenge among men who have sex with other men in Tanzania (as it does across Sub-Saharan Africa). In Tanzania, the overall prevalence of HIV among adults dropped from 8% to 4.7% between 2003 and 2017, 12 but it remains almost twice that among men who engage in sex with other men (it was 8.3% in this population in Dar es Salaam in 2017 13 ).…”