Martin Mbonye
Biographic Data
| ID | 246643 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Martin Mbonye |
| GIVEN NAMES | Martin |
| FAMILY NAME | Mbonye |
| SIGNATURE | MBONYE M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Uganda Virus Research Institute |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-5126-2439 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 22 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 36 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 22 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2009 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Who is a mobile man ‘at risk’? Masculinity, work-related mobility, and HIV-related risks in Uganda and South Africa
Men who move for work (e.g., taxi drivers, fishermen, labourers) are often described as a homogeneous group at equal risk of HIV acquisition. This framing often masks important differences between men. Using data from rapid ethnographic assessments and a baseline survey in two settings in South Africa and one in Uganda, we examine how sexual risk- taking among men who travel frequently for work is shaped by mobility. We describe the different mob…
Sexual risk and HIV prevention choices among men who are mobile for work
In preparation for a trial implementing oral and long-acting Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis [LA-PrEP] for mobile men in South Africa and Uganda, we conducted a rapid ethnographic assessment at each trial site between November 2023 and July 2024. We present findings from that assessment on men’s views on sexual risk and HIV prevention options which informed the trial. Each rapid ethnographic assessment took 15 days of continuous work in each community u…
Parent–child communication on sexual and reproductive health in border districts of Eastern Uganda
Parent-child communication concerning sexual and reproductive health (SRH) has significant potential to reduce children’s risky sexual behaviour. Despite these benefits, few parents communicate with their children about SRH issues in Uganda. Using multi-stage stratified sampling in a cross-sectional survey, we estimated the prevalence and investigated the factors that were associated with recent parent-child communication among 600 children (10-1…
“If your mother does not teach you, the world will…”
Parents' ability to communicate with their children is hindered by cultural barriers, busy work schedules, and a lack of knowledge. Engaging all stakeholders including parents to deconstruct sociocultural norms around adolescent SRH, developing the capacity of parents to confidently initiate and convey accurate SRH information, initiation of SRH discussions at early ages, and integrating parent-adolescent communication into parenting intervention…
Illicit Drug Use among Commercial ‘Boda Boda’ Motorcyclists in Uganda
Background: Illicit drug use is a global public health problem with grave health and socio-economic consequences. Related intoxication has been associated with accidental injuries and fatalities. In Uganda, 67% of road traffic accidents are attributed to motorcyclists. Methods: This study assessed the prevalence and determinants of illicit drug use among commercial motorcyclists in Uganda, using a cross-sectional survey research design. We interv…
Conflicted masculinities
This ethnographic study explores the experience of men in long-term relationships with sex workers and their construction of masculine identities in Kampala, Uganda. Data were collected in 2019 and comprise in-depth interviews with 13 male partners and two group discussions of women with long-term male partners. Thematic analysis used an intersectional lens to frame reconfigurations of gender and masculinity in the context of relationships with s…
Marginal men, respectable masculinity and access to HIV services through intimate relationships with female sex workers in Kampala, Uganda
Masculinity influences men's sexual risk-taking behaviour and affects uptake of HIV services. We draw on data from a year-long (2019) ethnographic study focusing on men in relationships with female sex workers (FSW) in Kampala, Uganda to examine how and why two marginalised groups of people may interact to produce positive health behaviours. Data from in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation were collected and anal…
Conducting in-depth interviews with and without voice recorders
The use of audio recordings has become a taken-for-granted approach to generating transcripts of in-depth interviewing and group discussions. In this paper we begin by describing circumstances where the use of a recorder is not, or may not be, possible, before sharing our comparative analysis of audio-recorded transcriptions and interview scripts made from notes taken during the interview (by experienced, well-trained interviewers). Our compariso…
Test and treat
At the end of 2013, the Government of Uganda issued guidance recommending provision of Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) to HIV-positive people in key populations, including female sex workers, regardless of CD4 cell count. We describe the implementation of this new guidance in a clinic serving women at high risk of HIV infection in Kampala. Between July and December 2015, we conducted repeat in-depth interviews with 15 women attending the clinic a…
Relationship dynamics and sexual risk behaviour of male partners of female sex workers in Kampala, Uganda
Regular male partners of female sex workers (FSWs) represent an important population to reach with HIV-prevention interventions. This paper discusses the relationship dynamics and HIV/sexually transmitted infection risk behaviour of men involved with self-identified FSWs in Kampala. Between 2011 and 2014 we conducted repeat in-depth interviews with 42 male partners of FSWs attending a clinic for women at high risk of HIV-infection in Kampala. Men…
Voluntary medical male circumcision for HIV prevention in fishing communities in Uganda
Local beliefs and practices about voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) may influence uptake and effectiveness. Data were gathered through interviews with 40 people from four ethnically mixed fishing communities in Uganda. Some men believed that wound healing could be promoted by contact with vaginal fluids while sex with non-regular partners could chase away spirits - practices which encouraged unsafe sexual practices. Information given by …
Effectiveness of educational outreach in infectious diseases management
Effects of OSS on workload were not statistically significant. Significant OSS effects on facility performance across subgroups were heterogeneous. OSS supported MLP who diagnosed and treated patients to apply IMID knowledge. For other providers, OSS supported team work to manage emergency patients. This evidence on OSS effectiveness could inform interventions to improve health workers' capacity to deliver better quality infectious diseases care
The social context of gender-based violence, alcohol use and HIV risk among women involved in high-risk sexual behaviour and their intimate partners in Kampala, Uganda
This paper explores the interaction between gender-based violence and alcohol use and their links to vulnerability to HIV-infection in a population of women and their regular male partners in Kampala, Uganda. Data derive from 20 life history interviews (10 women and 10 men). Participants were drawn from a cohort of women at high risk of sexually transmitted infection (including HIV). Six of the women were current or former sex workers. Findings r…
Why do men often not use condoms in their relationships with casual sexual partners in Uganda
With a focus on Uganda, this paper examines men's condom use in sexual relationships with casual partners and what this might tell us about men's vulnerability to HIV-infection. We carried out repeat interviews with 31 men attending a clinic serving women at high risk for HIV infection and their partners in Kampala. We found that the experience of condom-less sex in the men's youth, itself the outcome of a restrictive home environment, was percei…
Alcohol consumption and high risk sexual behaviour among female sex workers in Uganda
Alcohol consumption has been associated with high risk sexual behaviour among key populations such as female sex workers. We explored the drivers of alcohol consumption and its relationship to high risk sexual behaviour. Participants were drawn from a cohort of 1027 women selected from 'hot spots' in the suburbs of Kampala city. We conducted 3 in-depth interviews with 40 female sex workers between 2010 and 2011. Data were analysed thematically, f…
It is like a tomato stall where someone can pick what he likes’
Sex work operates across a variety of locations in the study area in Kampala, with each presenting different strategies and challenges for those operating there. Risky practices are present in all locations although they are higher on the streets compared to other locations. Location specific interventions are required to address the complex challenges in sex work environments
Stigma trajectories among people living with HIV (PLHIV) embarking on a life time journey with antiretroviral drugs in Jinja, Uganda
This study has shown that while ART comes with health benefits which help individuals to get rid of previously stigmatising visible signs, an increase in stigma may be noticed after about five years on ART, leading to reduced disclosure. ART adherence counselling should reflect changing causes and manifestations of stigma over time
Between town and country
In Uganda, as in many other African countries, increasing numbers of 15-24 year olds are migrating to urban areas to look for work and educational opportunities. We explore the shifting sense of identity amongst youth migrants in Uganda as they struggle to reconcile the differences in social norms between the rural settings in which they are brought up and the urban environment in which they now live. The experience of migration significantly imp…
HIV and identity
Living with HIV, for many of those infected, has meant adjusting to life with a stigmatised condition and, until recently, the threat of looming death. We explore the adjustment of a group of long-term former clients of The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) in Uganda who, when tested for HIV during the rollout of antiretroviral therapy in 2004, were found to be HIV negative. In-depth semi-structured interviews with 34 former TASO clients were cond…
Changes in sexual desires and behaviours of people living with HIV after initiation of ART
These findings point to the importance of tailoring counselling messages to the changing realities of the ART users' cultural expectations around child bearing, marriage and sexual desire. People taking ART require support so they feel comfortable to disclose their HIV status to sexual partners
ABC for people with HIV
People living with HIV who are taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) are increasingly involved in 'positive prevention' initiatives. These are generally oriented to promoting abstinence, 'being faithful' (partner reduction) and condom use (ABC). We conducted a longitudinal qualitative study with people living with HIV using ART, who were provided with adherence education and counselling support by a Ugandan non-governmental organisation, The AIDS S…
High levels of psychosocial readiness for ART in an African population at the onset of treatment
Adherence at the earliest stages of treatment is likely to be influenced by prior illness trajectories and future expectations, best captured (and addressed) before treatment begins. We examined the influence of illness trajectories and treatment expectations on psychosocial readiness to start antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Jinja, Uganda. In-depth interviews were conducted between October 2005 and April 2006 with 41 members of an AIDS support or…
Conducting in-depth interviews with and without voice recorders
The use of audio recordings has become a taken-for-granted approach to generating transcripts of in-depth interviewing and group discussions. In this paper we begin by describing circumstances where the use of a recorder is not, or may not be, possible, before sharing our comparative analysis of audio-recorded transcriptions and interview scripts made from notes taken during the interview (by experienced, well-trained interviewers). Our compariso…
Between town and country
In Uganda, as in many other African countries, increasing numbers of 15-24 year olds are migrating to urban areas to look for work and educational opportunities. We explore the shifting sense of identity amongst youth migrants in Uganda as they struggle to reconcile the differences in social norms between the rural settings in which they are brought up and the urban environment in which they now live. The experience of migration significantly imp…
Marginal men, respectable masculinity and access to HIV services through intimate relationships with female sex workers in Kampala, Uganda
Masculinity influences men's sexual risk-taking behaviour and affects uptake of HIV services. We draw on data from a year-long (2019) ethnographic study focusing on men in relationships with female sex workers (FSW) in Kampala, Uganda to examine how and why two marginalised groups of people may interact to produce positive health behaviours. Data from in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation were collected and anal…
HIV and identity
Living with HIV, for many of those infected, has meant adjusting to life with a stigmatised condition and, until recently, the threat of looming death. We explore the adjustment of a group of long-term former clients of The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) in Uganda who, when tested for HIV during the rollout of antiretroviral therapy in 2004, were found to be HIV negative. In-depth semi-structured interviews with 34 former TASO clients were cond…
High levels of psychosocial readiness for ART in an African population at the onset of treatment
Adherence at the earliest stages of treatment is likely to be influenced by prior illness trajectories and future expectations, best captured (and addressed) before treatment begins. We examined the influence of illness trajectories and treatment expectations on psychosocial readiness to start antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Jinja, Uganda. In-depth interviews were conducted between October 2005 and April 2006 with 41 members of an AIDS support or…
Changes in sexual desires and behaviours of people living with HIV after initiation of ART
These findings point to the importance of tailoring counselling messages to the changing realities of the ART users' cultural expectations around child bearing, marriage and sexual desire. People taking ART require support so they feel comfortable to disclose their HIV status to sexual partners
ABC for people with HIV
People living with HIV who are taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) are increasingly involved in 'positive prevention' initiatives. These are generally oriented to promoting abstinence, 'being faithful' (partner reduction) and condom use (ABC). We conducted a longitudinal qualitative study with people living with HIV using ART, who were provided with adherence education and counselling support by a Ugandan non-governmental organisation, The AIDS S…
Between town and country
In Uganda, as in many other African countries, increasing numbers of 15-24 year olds are migrating to urban areas to look for work and educational opportunities. We explore the shifting sense of identity amongst youth migrants in Uganda as they struggle to reconcile the differences in social norms between the rural settings in which they are brought up and the urban environment in which they now live. The experience of migration significantly imp…
HIV and identity
Living with HIV, for many of those infected, has meant adjusting to life with a stigmatised condition and, until recently, the threat of looming death. We explore the adjustment of a group of long-term former clients of The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) in Uganda who, when tested for HIV during the rollout of antiretroviral therapy in 2004, were found to be HIV negative. In-depth semi-structured interviews with 34 former TASO clients were cond…
It is like a tomato stall where someone can pick what he likes’
Sex work operates across a variety of locations in the study area in Kampala, with each presenting different strategies and challenges for those operating there. Risky practices are present in all locations although they are higher on the streets compared to other locations. Location specific interventions are required to address the complex challenges in sex work environments
Stigma trajectories among people living with HIV (PLHIV) embarking on a life time journey with antiretroviral drugs in Jinja, Uganda
This study has shown that while ART comes with health benefits which help individuals to get rid of previously stigmatising visible signs, an increase in stigma may be noticed after about five years on ART, leading to reduced disclosure. ART adherence counselling should reflect changing causes and manifestations of stigma over time
Alcohol consumption and high risk sexual behaviour among female sex workers in Uganda
Alcohol consumption has been associated with high risk sexual behaviour among key populations such as female sex workers. We explored the drivers of alcohol consumption and its relationship to high risk sexual behaviour. Participants were drawn from a cohort of 1027 women selected from 'hot spots' in the suburbs of Kampala city. We conducted 3 in-depth interviews with 40 female sex workers between 2010 and 2011. Data were analysed thematically, f…
Why do men often not use condoms in their relationships with casual sexual partners in Uganda
With a focus on Uganda, this paper examines men's condom use in sexual relationships with casual partners and what this might tell us about men's vulnerability to HIV-infection. We carried out repeat interviews with 31 men attending a clinic serving women at high risk for HIV infection and their partners in Kampala. We found that the experience of condom-less sex in the men's youth, itself the outcome of a restrictive home environment, was percei…
Test and treat
At the end of 2013, the Government of Uganda issued guidance recommending provision of Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) to HIV-positive people in key populations, including female sex workers, regardless of CD4 cell count. We describe the implementation of this new guidance in a clinic serving women at high risk of HIV infection in Kampala. Between July and December 2015, we conducted repeat in-depth interviews with 15 women attending the clinic a…
Relationship dynamics and sexual risk behaviour of male partners of female sex workers in Kampala, Uganda
Regular male partners of female sex workers (FSWs) represent an important population to reach with HIV-prevention interventions. This paper discusses the relationship dynamics and HIV/sexually transmitted infection risk behaviour of men involved with self-identified FSWs in Kampala. Between 2011 and 2014 we conducted repeat in-depth interviews with 42 male partners of FSWs attending a clinic for women at high risk of HIV-infection in Kampala. Men…
Voluntary medical male circumcision for HIV prevention in fishing communities in Uganda
Local beliefs and practices about voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) may influence uptake and effectiveness. Data were gathered through interviews with 40 people from four ethnically mixed fishing communities in Uganda. Some men believed that wound healing could be promoted by contact with vaginal fluids while sex with non-regular partners could chase away spirits - practices which encouraged unsafe sexual practices. Information given by …
Effectiveness of educational outreach in infectious diseases management
Effects of OSS on workload were not statistically significant. Significant OSS effects on facility performance across subgroups were heterogeneous. OSS supported MLP who diagnosed and treated patients to apply IMID knowledge. For other providers, OSS supported team work to manage emergency patients. This evidence on OSS effectiveness could inform interventions to improve health workers' capacity to deliver better quality infectious diseases care
The social context of gender-based violence, alcohol use and HIV risk among women involved in high-risk sexual behaviour and their intimate partners in Kampala, Uganda
This paper explores the interaction between gender-based violence and alcohol use and their links to vulnerability to HIV-infection in a population of women and their regular male partners in Kampala, Uganda. Data derive from 20 life history interviews (10 women and 10 men). Participants were drawn from a cohort of women at high risk of sexually transmitted infection (including HIV). Six of the women were current or former sex workers. Findings r…
Conducting in-depth interviews with and without voice recorders
The use of audio recordings has become a taken-for-granted approach to generating transcripts of in-depth interviewing and group discussions. In this paper we begin by describing circumstances where the use of a recorder is not, or may not be, possible, before sharing our comparative analysis of audio-recorded transcriptions and interview scripts made from notes taken during the interview (by experienced, well-trained interviewers). Our compariso…
Illicit Drug Use among Commercial ‘Boda Boda’ Motorcyclists in Uganda
Background: Illicit drug use is a global public health problem with grave health and socio-economic consequences. Related intoxication has been associated with accidental injuries and fatalities. In Uganda, 67% of road traffic accidents are attributed to motorcyclists. Methods: This study assessed the prevalence and determinants of illicit drug use among commercial motorcyclists in Uganda, using a cross-sectional survey research design. We interv…
Conflicted masculinities
This ethnographic study explores the experience of men in long-term relationships with sex workers and their construction of masculine identities in Kampala, Uganda. Data were collected in 2019 and comprise in-depth interviews with 13 male partners and two group discussions of women with long-term male partners. Thematic analysis used an intersectional lens to frame reconfigurations of gender and masculinity in the context of relationships with s…
Marginal men, respectable masculinity and access to HIV services through intimate relationships with female sex workers in Kampala, Uganda
Masculinity influences men's sexual risk-taking behaviour and affects uptake of HIV services. We draw on data from a year-long (2019) ethnographic study focusing on men in relationships with female sex workers (FSW) in Kampala, Uganda to examine how and why two marginalised groups of people may interact to produce positive health behaviours. Data from in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation were collected and anal…
“If your mother does not teach you, the world will…”
Parents' ability to communicate with their children is hindered by cultural barriers, busy work schedules, and a lack of knowledge. Engaging all stakeholders including parents to deconstruct sociocultural norms around adolescent SRH, developing the capacity of parents to confidently initiate and convey accurate SRH information, initiation of SRH discussions at early ages, and integrating parent-adolescent communication into parenting intervention…
Parent–child communication on sexual and reproductive health in border districts of Eastern Uganda
Parent-child communication concerning sexual and reproductive health (SRH) has significant potential to reduce children’s risky sexual behaviour. Despite these benefits, few parents communicate with their children about SRH issues in Uganda. Using multi-stage stratified sampling in a cross-sectional survey, we estimated the prevalence and investigated the factors that were associated with recent parent-child communication among 600 children (10-1…
Sexual risk and HIV prevention choices among men who are mobile for work
In preparation for a trial implementing oral and long-acting Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis [LA-PrEP] for mobile men in South Africa and Uganda, we conducted a rapid ethnographic assessment at each trial site between November 2023 and July 2024. We present findings from that assessment on men’s views on sexual risk and HIV prevention options which informed the trial. Each rapid ethnographic assessment took 15 days of continuous work in each community u…
Who is a mobile man ‘at risk’? Masculinity, work-related mobility, and HIV-related risks in Uganda and South Africa
Men who move for work (e.g., taxi drivers, fishermen, labourers) are often described as a homogeneous group at equal risk of HIV acquisition. This framing often masks important differences between men. Using data from rapid ethnographic assessments and a baseline survey in two settings in South Africa and one in Uganda, we examine how sexual risk- taking among men who travel frequently for work is shaped by mobility. We describe the different mob…
Medicine (18 works) · Sociology (13 works) · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk (12 works) · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (12 works) · Family medicine (11 works) · Population (11 works) · Psychology (11 works) · Environmental health (10 works) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (9 works) · Sex work and related issues (9 works)