“Whenever Jack sees a condom, he falls asleep”: experiences of condom use and erectile disorder among HIV positive men in a Zimbabwean rural setting

Abstract

In this qualitative inquiry, we set out to explore the experience of condom use and erectile disorder (ED) among men living with HIV in a rural district of Zimbabwe. Data on condom use related erectile disorder with antiretroviral (ART) medication were collected from a purposive sample of 18 men living with HIV and AIDS (age range 23-54 years). These data were supplemented with those from a convenience sample of 23 women living with HIV who self-identified as partners of men living with HIV and AIDS (age range 26-37 years). The data were thematically analyzed. Results suggest that men attributed their experiencing of erectile problems to two main explanations: use of condoms and ART medication. These men reported inconsistent use of condoms and/or adherance to ART therapy due to a belief that these cause their ED. The women informants reported similar observations, including the shared gendered perspective that the men perceived a loss of sense of manhood from ED. Beliefs that influence health promotion with men living with HIV and AIDS are important to public health interventions with them.

Risky traditional practices and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV: the case of Chiota community in Zimbabwe

“…This qualitative inquiry was part of a series of studies conducted on socio-cultural realities of following through with PMTCT in Chiota rural community, Zimbabwe (e.g., Nyati-Jokomo, January, Mpande, & Ruparanganda, 2015). The qualitative method was selected to understand the meanings that people attach to phenomena within their social worlds as indicated by Denzin, Lincoln, and Lincoin (2000).…”

‘If nurses were in our shoes would they breastfeed their own babies?’ A qualitative inquiry on challenges faced by breastfeeding mothers on the PMTCT programme in a rural community in Zimbabwe

“…This paper reports results from part of a larger study on socio-cultural realities of following through with PMTCT in the Chiota rural community in Zimbabwe [13, 14]. Results from this study were reported using the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) [15].…”

“…Participation was voluntary and participants were recruited at two government primary healthcare facilities as they came to collect their monthly supplies of medication or when they came for the child welfare clinics. Stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS is still very strong in the area under study such that efforts to recruit mothers from the community became futile, hence the resolution to recruit from the health facilities [13].…”