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High Risk Behaviors and Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Men in Tanzania

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Abstract

We assessed the association between risk behaviors and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among men. We interviewed 794 men randomly selected from Moshi district of Tanzania. Blood and urine samples were tested for STIs. About 46% of the men tested positive for at least one STI including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), herpes simplex virus (HSV-2), syphilis, chlamydia, trichomonas, and mycoplasma infection. Multiple sexual partners, casual sex, alcohol abuse, and older age were associated with higher odds of having an STI. Effective STI prevention programs in sub-Saharan Africa should have components aimed at addressing modifiable risk behaviors in men.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the men of Moshi district of Tanzania for their participation in the study. We are grateful to Dr. Ulla Larsen for her constructive comments and critical reading of the manuscript. This research was supported by the Harvard University Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) and NIAID K08 AI074404.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biostatistics, Harvard University School of Public Health & Dana Farber Cancer Center, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Musie Ghebremichael

  2. Departments of Pediatrics & Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Elijah Paintsil

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  1. Musie Ghebremichael
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  2. Elijah Paintsil
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Correspondence to Musie Ghebremichael.

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Ghebremichael, M., Paintsil, E. High Risk Behaviors and Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Men in Tanzania. AIDS Behav 15, 1026–1032 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-009-9594-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-009-9594-2

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