ArticleBMC public health2017
"But the moment they find out that you are MSM…": a qualitative investigation of HIV prevention experiences among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Ghana's health care system.
Article in BMC public health, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 64 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
64 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Missing assent: a global systematic review of ethical practices in HIV research with men who have sex with men (MSM) under 18.BMC medical ethics · 2026Pooled it
- Marriage and Steady Relationships with Women in Men Who Have Sex with Men in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Mixed-Method Systematic Review and Meta-analyses.AIDS and behavior · 2025Pooled it
- HIV testing and engagement with the HIV treatment cascade among men who have sex with men in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.The lancet. HIV · 2019Pooled it
- Pilot randomized controlled trial to reduce HIV-related stigma among clinicians in Malaysia via project ECHO®.AIDS care · 2025Trial
- Transactional sex, HIV, and STIs among men who have sex with men in Ghana: an MSM bio-behavioral study.Tropical medicine and health · 2025Article
- "We have our reasons": Exploring the acceptability of pre-exposure prophylaxis among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in Ghana.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Review
- Consistency of Condom Use with Lubricants and Associated Factors Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Ghana: Evidence from Integrated Bio-Behavioral Surveillance Survey.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- Examining Experiences of Gender Identities, Roles, and Relations among Men with Same-Gender Sexual Histories: Implications of Gender Nonconformity on Access to Quality Healthcare in Urban Ghana.Journal of urban health : bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine · 2025Article
- We are treated differently: Experiences of men who have sex with men in South African clinics.South African family practice : official journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care · 2025Article
- Home-based physical activity and well-being during infectious diseases: a structural equation modeling study.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
- Predicting depression among men who have sex with men in Ghana using machine learning algorithms.PLOS mental health · 2025Article
- Symptoms of Common Mental Disorders and Suicidality among Sexually Diverse Men who Have Sex with Men in Ghana.PLOS mental health · 2025Article
- Barriers and facilitators to uptake and persistence on prep among key populations in Southern Province, Zambia: a thematic analysis.BMC public health · 2024Article
- Article
- Measuring intersectional HIV, sexual diversity, and gender non-conformity stigma among healthcare workers in Ghana: scale validation and correlates of stigma.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Scoping review of HIV-related intersectional stigma among sexual and gender minorities in sub-Saharan Africa.BMJ open · 2024Article
- "What if I get sick, where shall I go?": a qualitative investigation of healthcare engagement among young gay and bisexual men in Nairobi, Kenya.BMC public health · 2024Article
- Article
- Article
4 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe 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.
methodsWe 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.
resultsThere were four major findings related to MSM experiences using HIV prevention resources: (1) condom quality is low, condom access is poor, and condom use is disruptive, (2) inaccurate information undermines HIV testing (3), stigma undermines HIV testing, and (4) positive attitudes towards HIV prevention exist among MSM. The main healthcare climate factors that affected prevention were that MSM were not free to be themselves, MSM were not understood by healthcare providers, and that MSM did not feel that healthcare providers cared about them. To improve HIV prevention MSM suggested increased education tailored to MSM should be provided to enable self-advocacy and that education and awareness are needed to protect human rights of MSM in Ghana.
conclusionMSM in Ghana are exposed to negative health care climates. Health care spaces that are unsupportive of MSM's autonomy undermine the uptake of prevention measures such as condoms, HIV testing, and accurate sexual health education. These findings contribute to knowledge to inform development of HIV prevention interventions for MSM in Ghana, such as culturally appropriate sexual health education, and digital technology to connect individuals with resources supportive of MSM.
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