The Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH), College of Health Sciences (CHS) invites you to a Seminar on Wednesday, 22nd May 2019 from 1:00 to 2:00pm.

Title:  Exploring Attitudes towards HIV testing amongst wealthy men in Tanzania  

Presenter:  Dr. Kevin Deane, Queen Mary University of London, UK

Chair:  Dr. David Musoke

Venue: Third Floor, Seminar Room (Room 317), MakSPH

Short summary

HIV has long been viewed as a disease of poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, despite evidence from Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) that shows that HIV prevalence rates are often highest in the wealthiest quintile for both men and women, especially in East Africa. However, for a range of reasons, this evidence has largely been ignored in policy making and academic circles, in part because it was assumed that the wealthiest would be the first to respond to the epidemic by changing their (sexual) behaviour. In relation to HIV testing, there is also an assumption that policy and programmes designed to encourage testing should focus on the poor. Whilst DHS data shows that self-reported testing rates are lower in poorer quintiles, there are still significant numbers of wealthy men who have not taken a HIV test. This has implications for the continued transmission of the virus, enhancing access to treatment, and importantly efforts to address the gendered nature of the epidemic. This presentation will reflect on findings from a recent qualitative research project conducted in Mwanza City, Tanzania, that aimed to understand attitudes towards HIV testing amongst wealthy men and the barriers to testing they face that are related to their wealth and status.

Brief profile

Dr. Kevin Deane is an interdisciplinary specialist in International Development and Global Health. His research interests focus on the political economy of health and development, primarily with an application to the HIV epidemic in Eastern and Southern Africa. Dr. Deane also has an interest in qualitative research methodology. He has significant undergraduate and postgraduate teaching experience, and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

For enquiries please contact

Agnes Namaganda,
Communications Officer,
Makerere University School of Public Health-MakSPH,
Email: anamaganda[at]musph.ac.ug, agnes.namaganda[at]gmail.com,
Tel: +256-775 492 677 /  +256-702 488 636