Intersection-informed subgroup patterns in condom use and HIV testing among adolescents in Tanzania: implications for...

Even though adolescents remain a priority population in HIV prevention, gendered and contextual conditions continue to shape condom use and HIV testing. Therefore, this study examined how gender, age, location, and school composition intersect in relation to HIV testing and condom use among adolescents. Using a cross-sectional design, the study applied stratified random sampling to select 552 adolescents, collected data via questionnaires and analysed the data using logistic regression. The results indicate that, albeit in different directions, the gender factor was associated with both condom use and HIV testing. Boys had significantly higher odds of reporting condom use than girls (B = 0.482, SE = 0.175, OR = 1.620, 95% CI [1.149-2.285], p = 0.006) whereas adolescent age group (14-16 years versus adolescents aged 17-19 years), location (urban versus rural) and school ownership (private versus public) were not significantly associated with condom use. For HIV testing, boys had lower odds than girls (OR = 0.26, 95% CI [0.12-0.58], p = .001), whereas school type, age, and location were not significantly associated with testing. These findings suggest the need for gender-responsive interventions to further strengthen HIV testing among boys and condom-use negotiation and decision-making skills among girls.