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Aim: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health concern that negatively impacts women’s health. Preliminary evidence from high-income countries suggests that IPV is linked with exposure to pornographic materials among men, by encouraging negative norms of masculinity. To generate evidence from low and middle-income countries, we examined the relationship between frequent exposure to pornography and IPV perpetration among young men in Mwanza, Tanzania. Subject and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 1002 randomly selected young men aged 18 to 24 living in Mwanza, Tanzania. Results: Of the 828 ever-partnered young men included in the study, 396 (47.8%) reported viewing pornography in the past 12 months, with 14.1% viewing it at least once a week. In the last 12 months, 21.4% of participants reported perpetrating sexual IPV, while 43.2% and 15% reported to have perpetrated emotional and physical IPV respectively. After adjusting for covariates, exposure to pornography was significantly associated with sexual (aOR = 2.77 95% CI 1.51 – 5.08), emotional (aOR = 1.84 95% CI: 1.01 – 3.37) and physical (aOR = 1.65 95% CI 1.00 – 2.74) IPV perpetration. Conclusion: Frequent exposure to pornography was associated with sexual, emotional, and physical IPV perpetration. Interventions to prevent violence against women therefore need to address men’s exposure to pornography.

Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) have successfully reduced malaria in sub-Saharan Africa, but their effectiveness is now partly compromised by widespread resistance to insecticides among vectors. We evaluated new classes of LLINs with two active ingredients with differing modes of action against resistant malaria vectors.

ABSTRACTBackgroundAlthough alcohol consumption is a well-known risk factor for intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration, few studies have been conducted among young males in low- and middle-income countries. Alcohol consumption and IPV are both complex phenomena, whose association requires more in-depth exploration regarding drinking patterns and the alcohol-related manifestation of five different forms of IPV.ObjectiveIn this study, we sought to explore the relationship between alcohol use and IPV in young Tanzanian men and to identify differences in the magnitude of past-year IPV perpetration among alcohol drinkers and abstainers. Furthermore, we aimed to assess the association between various drinking patterns with the perpetration of different forms of IPV.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of 1002 young males residing in Mwanza, Tanzania, was conducted in 2021–2022. Data on alcohol consumption were collected using the alcohol use disorder identification test. IPV perpetration was assessed using an index total of 19 items on acts of physical, sexual, economic, emotional abuse, and controlling behaviour. Logistic regression models were conducted to estimate the relationship between alcohol use and the perpetration of each form of IPV.ResultsAmong partnered respondents currently consuming alcohol (n = 189, 18.8%), the most and the least prevalent IPV forms in the past 12 months were controlling behaviour (84.1%) and physical IPV (25.4%), respectively. Those reporting recent alcohol consumption reported higher rates of all forms of past-year IPV perpetration compared to abstainers. While no form of IPV was associated with low-risk consumption versus abstention, all forms of IPV were associated with hazardous drinking.ConclusionYoung men who drink alcohol, especially those drinking hazardously, are also more likely to report perpetrating IPV. An understanding of the different drinking patterns and manifestations of forms of IPV can contribute to better-tailored alcohol-related interventions and has the potential to improve young adults’ health and reduce IPV perpetration.

The global burden of cervical cancer remains very high, with more than 340,000 potentially preventable deaths annually and disproportionally affects low-income and middle-income countries. Countries that have adopted HPV vaccination administer a multidose schedule with 2 doses offered to girls younger than 15 years, and 3 offered to girls 15 years and older or immunocompromised individuals. Unfortunately, several barriers to full immunization remain, and only 15% of girls in the target age group worldwide are estimated to be fully vaccinated. A single-dose vaccine would remove many barriers and be significantly cheaper; however, evidence is needed on the immunogenicity and efficacy.This randomized phase 3 clinical trial (DoRIS) aimed to examine immune responses after a single dose of HPV vaccine in the target age group for HPV vaccination in Tanzania. Girls aged 9–14 years who have not been vaccinated for HPV and did not have any history of cervical lesions, treatment for positive cervical cancer screening, or immunocompromised status were invited from Government schools to participate. Participants were randomized to 1 of 6 arms comprising 3 different dose schedules of 2 different HPV vaccines (3 doses over 6 months, 2 doses given 6 months apart, or a single dose for either the 2-valent vaccine or the 9-valent vaccine). Blood samples were collected for immunological assays at 1, 7, 12, and 24 months after vaccination. The primary study outcome was noninferiority of HPV 16 and HPV 18 specific seropositivity after a single dose compared with 2 or 3 doses of the same vaccine 24 months after vaccination. Primary analyses were undertaken in the per-protocol population, including those who received the allocated doses of HPV vaccine in the protocol-defined window. A sensitivity analysis included all participants who received at least 1 dose of HPV vaccine.A total of 930 girls were enrolled and randomized with 155 participants per group. At 24 months, 856 (93%) girls were included in the per-protocol analysis of anti-HPV 16 antibody responses, and 831 (91%) in the per-protocol analysis of anti-HPV 18. All but 2 participants were seropositive for HPV 16 IgG at 24 months (1 participant in each of the 1-dose arms was not), and all but 6 participants were HPV 18 seropositive at 24 months (2 in the 1-dose 2-valent group, 3 in the 1-dose 9-valent group, and 1 in the 3-dose 9-valent group). Noninferiority of HPV 16 seroconversion was met at 24 months for 1 dose compared with 2 doses or 3 doses for both vaccines; however, noninferiority for HPV 18 seroconversion was not met despite 98% of girls in the 1-dose arms of both vaccines testing positive for anti-HPV 18. There was no difference in serious adverse events among study groups or any serious adverse events related to the vaccine.The results of this study demonstrate that, in healthy Tanzanian girls, a single dose of the 2-valent or 9-valent HPV vaccines was well tolerated and resulted in high seropositivity and induced stable vaccine responses that persisted to 24 months.