Female same-sex legal status and its implications to women who have sex with women’s health and well-being in Tanzania: A public health lens

Abstract

ABSTRACT Recruitment of an acceptable number of participants in a (public) health research with ‘hard to reach’/‘hidden’ populations is an old global problem, mostly challenging public health researchers in resource limited countries like Tanzania. Violence, stigma, criminalization of behaviors practiced by these groups, and potential participants’ suspicion toward the research and the researchers, further limit willingness to voluntarily participate. We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive and retrospective qualitative formative study with women who have sex with women in Dar-es-Salaam City region, Tanzania. The aim, among other objectives, was to understand women who have sex with women’s attitudes and willingness to participate in future female same sex public health research targeting this group. Findings indicate that all women we studied expressed willingness to participate in future health research targeting issues around female same sex relationships in the Tanzania context; an opportunity for (public) health professionals to prevent and control diseases in the country. To attain this goal, we recommend tailoring research protocols’ content, communication messages, and recruitment tactics to recognize, appreciate, and embrace the specific characteristics, backgrounds, and concerns of women who have sex with women in Tanzania. Keywords: Women who have sex with women, Female same sex behaviors and practices, Health research participation, Research participants’ recruitment, Qualitative research, Tanzania