“Something must kill a man”: Beliefs about condom use in prevention of Human Papilloma Virus among men at Kpong community

Abstract

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is highly prevalent among sexually active individuals. A report by the Ghana Aids Commission highlights low condom usage among Ghana's sexually active youth. Despite this, there has been no exploration of views regarding condom use for preventing HPV infection. The purpose of the study was to examine the beliefs about condom use in preventing the human papillomavirus among men at Kpong community. Methods: The study utilized a qualitative approach with an exploratory design, employing purposive sampling to select 40 participants. Data collection involved face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed through content analysis. Results: The study produced three main themes and 8 subthemes. Despite most participants having used condoms before, primarily once (57.5 %) with a preference for “kiss condoms'' (42.5 %). The primary reason for condom use was pregnancy prevention (45 %), instead of HPV infections (22.5 %). Most participants rarely used condoms, aiming to enhance sexual pleasure or assuming their partners were HPV-free. Some cited religious reasons, viewing condom use as sinful. Conclusion: Participants commonly do not use condoms to prevent HPV infections. Additionally, men have various religious and personal reasons for not using condoms to protect against HPV and other infections. This underscores the need for increased awareness of HPV transmission among men.