The Open AIDS Journal " Too Much Sex and Alcohol " : Beliefs, Attitudes, and Behaviors of Male Adolescents and Young Men Who have Sex with Men in Ghana (original) (raw)
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The open AIDS journal, 2018
Research suggests that men who have sex with men (MSM) often engage in high-risk sex and use illicit substances. To increase understanding of HIV knowledge and vulnerability among adolescent and young adult MSM, with a focus on alcohol and drug use and transactional sex. We conducted in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with adolescent (aged 15-17 years) and young adult (aged 18-29 years) MSM in Kumasi, Ghana. MSM who reported recent alcohol and/or substance use or engagement in transactional sex were eligible. Questions covered HIV-related knowledge, experiences with substance-use and transactional sex, and attitudes regarding sexual risk-taking and HIV-related services. Data were analyzed thematically using NVivo 10.0 software. Ninety-nine MSM participated in 44 interviews and 8 FGDs. Most were attending or had completed secondary school. HIV knowledge was high, but with major gaps. Most consumed alcohol; one-fourth used drugs. Alcohol and substances were consume...
2013
This study was implemented by Boston University in collaboration with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology with support from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the U.S. Agency for International Development under Project SEARCH Task Order No. GHH‐I‐00‐07‐00023‐00, beginning August 27, 2010. The content and views expressed here are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of USAID or the U.S. Government.Preventing HIV among key populations is a goal of the National AIDS Control Program (NACP) and the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC).1 Men who have sex with men (MSM) are a particularly stigmatized group in Ghana, in part because male-to-male sex is viewed as “unnatural” and therefore illegal. MSM are a critical though difficult population to reach with HIV-related services. Until recently, specific data on MSM in the country were limited. The Ghana Men’s Study (GMS), which collected data from 1,302 MSM in five regions i...
BMC public health, 2017
The prevalence of HIV in Ghana is 1.3%, compared to 17% among men who have sex with men (MSM). There is limited empirical data on the current health care climate and its impact on HIV prevention services for Ghanaian MSM. The purposes of this study were to investigate (1) MSM's experiences using HIV prevention resources, (2) what factors, including health care climate factors, influenced MSM's use of prevention resources and (3) MSM self-identified strategies for improving HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention among MSM in Ghanaian communities. We conducted 22 focus groups (n = 137) with peer social networks of MSM drawn from three geographic communities in Ghana (Accra, Kumasi, Manya Krobo). The data were examined using qualitative content analysis. Interviews with individual health care providers were also conducted to supplement the analysis of focus group findings to provide more nuanced illuminations of the experiences reported by MSM. There were four majo...
ABSTRACT HIV is one of the most destructive diseases in human history, having killed over 25 million people globally. In 2007 alone, over 2.1 million people have died from AIDS. The advent of HAART seems to have reduced the AIDS related morbidity and mortality globally. Nevertheless, more people seem to be infected with HIV despite universal awareness and knowledge of preventive methods. In 2012, there were as many as 2.7 million new infections globally. The situation in Ghana is not different though Ghana seems to have a relatively low epidemic. This study investigated high risk behaviour among HIV clients who attend clinic at the Volta Regional Hospital, Ho. It used a cross-sectional survey. Sample population was purposively chosen and using random sampling approach, 130 respondents were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Results revealed that females make up majority of clients, constituting 81.5%. 63.4% of respondents were on ARVs. Only 39% of clients in this sample do use condoms consistently with their regular sexual partners. Consistent condom use with non-regular sexual partner is however slightly higher as compared with condom use with regular partners, although it is still low with only 45% of those with non-regular sexual partners using consistently. Gender, level of education and participation in support group meetings has no influence on consistent condom use. However, religion, marital status and whether one is on ARV or not have significant relationship with condom use. HIV status disclosure is significantly higher among clients on ARV and those who attend support group meeting and as to be expected, disclosure of HIV status very significantly influence consistency of condom use (p<0.001). Alcohol abuse was found not to be a significant risk factor in this sample population.
Ghana Medical Journal
Background: We assessed sexual experiences among adolescent and young adults living with HIV (AYALHIV) attending the adolescent HIV care clinic in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH)Design: Cross-sectional study conducted in 2015.Setting: HIV clinic at KBTHParticipants: AYALHIV who attended the adolescent HIV care clinicInterventions: AYALHIV were interviewed with a structured questionnaire to obtain data on their socio-demographic characteristics and sexual experiences. The data was analyzed with STATA version 13.Main outcome measures: sexual experiences of adolescents and young people living with HIVResults: Of 101 participants, 60.4% (61/101) were males. The mean age of respondents was (18±3.2) years with an average age at sexual debut (16.2±4.2) years. A third of the respondents (34/101) had had sex before and out of them 76.5% (26/34) were males. Seventeen percent (4/23) had multiple sexual partners and 38.1% (8/21) of sexually active use condom at last sexual intercourse. Eighty...
All die be die': obstacles to change in the face of HIV infection in Ghana
Following the detection of the first HIV/AIDS in Ghana, a number of programs were undertaken to create awareness of the disease and to generate behavioural change among the population. However, the expected behavioural changes have not occurred, especially among the most vulnerable groups such as those aged 20-29 years. A study was conducted among selected students in the Central Region of Ghana on a wide range of issues including attitudes to sexual behaviour, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV and condom use. Results indicate that socio-economic conditions influence people's attitude to life; in some cases the desire to survive was the main influence. About 80 per cent of the young people considered abstinence from sex as a protection against STDs, but some of them had been pressed to have sex and were not able to follow what they considered the right course of action. Some believe that people may contract HIV no matter what they do, if they are predestined to be infected. The...
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviours of Adults (15-49 Years) towards HIV/AIDS in Ghana
Texila International Journal of Academic Research, 2021
The adult population (15-49 years) are the most productive and yet the most vulnerable to HIV infections in Ghana. A phenomenon that threatens the socioeconomic growth of the country and the survival of its people. Poor knowledge, ill-informed attitudes, and risky lifestyles are the key factors that hinder the prevention of HIV spread among adults. The study's aim was to explore knowledge, attitudes, and risky behaviours among adults which hinder the prevention of HIV/AIDS in Ghana. A case-control study of 362 adults was conducted in the Ahafo and Northern regions of Ghana in 2020. Descriptive and inferential statistics were significant at 1% and 5%. Results indicated that the majority of adults in Ghana are sexually active with limited education but high knowledge of HIV/AIDS. The study revealed significant levels of association between HIV infections and age, sex, marital status, sex with multiple partners, use of the condom, sex for money, sexually transmitted infections, alcohol or drug abuse, personal income, access to places where sex is traded, and migration. The study concludes that both cases and controls generally had good knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS but show poor attitudes towards PLHIV and also engaged in risky behaviours that might predispose others to HIV infections. Findings also highlight the need for culturally adaptive and age-specific HIV education for adults across all regions. Identified misconceptions on HIV/AIDS, poor attitudes of adults towards PLHIV, and risky behaviours of adults regarding HIV/AIDS need specific and targeted education towards behavioural change.