Abstract
There is limited information about sexual behavior among volunteers who participated in phase I/II human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine trial. This article describes the sexual behavior, practices before, and after participation in phase I/II HIV vaccine trial in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. We conducted a qualitative descriptive study involving volunteers who participated in the phase I/II vaccine trial between 2007 and 2010. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit potential informants. Twenty-four in-depth interviews were conducted. The audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a thematic content analysis approach. The findings revealed that before participation in the HIV vaccine trial, informants were engaging in unprotected multiple sexual relationships. After the completion of the HIV vaccine trial, informants reported strengthened marital relationships, increased understanding of safer sexual practices, and HIV testing. However, the informants reported challenges regarding vaccine-induced seropositivity that adversely affected their sexual and marital relationships. Some informants re-engaged in risky sexual practices because they perceived the experimental vaccine was protective. The informants suggested having continued interventions within the community to enhance safer sexual practices. Participation in phase I/II HIV vaccine trials may positively and negatively influence changes in volunteers’ sexual behaviors and practices. The trial interventions appear to improve compliance with safer sexual practices. However, the reported vaccine-induced seropositivity and the perception that experimental vaccines are protective need further appropriate interventions.
Highlights
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to be a major public health concern
We recruited informants who participated in HIVIS 03, a phase I/II human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine trial between 2007 and 2010
Police officers were chosen for this particular HIV vaccine trial because they were considered a low-risk population and most of them had secondary education capable of making independent informed decisions [31]
Summary
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to be a major public health concern. In 2018, an estimated 37.9 million people were living with HIV, with a global HIV prevalence of 0.8% among adults. The majority of people living with HIV are from low- and middle- income countries, with an estimated 68% living in sub-Saharan Africa [1]. About 1.6 million people were living with HIV in Tanzania in 2018. This equates to an estimated HIV prevalence among adults of 4.8% [2]. 72,000 people were newly infected with HIV, and 24,000 people died from an Acquired
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