Stakeholders’ Perspectives on Interventions for Consistent and Correct Use of Condoms with Condom-Compatible Lubricants Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Ghana

The government of Ghana, in partnership with HIV-focused civil society organisations, has implemented interventions and programmes to promote consistent and correct condom use with lubricants to combat HIV transmission and acquisition among key populations, including men who have sex with men (MSM), a population disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic. Despite these interventions, consistent condom use with lubricants among MSM remains low. Other interventions that also support HIV prevention and care for MSM are also being affected by the United States policy shift on financial aid. This study sought to identify interventions that exist to promote the consistent and correct use of condoms with lubricants among MSM in Ghana, while exploring related challenges faced by both service providers and MSM, as well as potential opportunities for improvement. This research employed an exploratory study design. We conducted face-to-face semi-structured interviews among sixteen individuals: seven MSM, four healthcare professionals, and five individuals from civil society organisations. Each interview lasted around 30 to 47 minutes, and all data were collected between April 7- May 2, 2025. The interviews were recorded, and audio files were transcribed verbatim, reviewed, deidentified, and then captured on Atlas.ti version 24 to organise the data. A professional coder generated the codes, after which thematic content analysis was used to develop recurring themes, and sub-themes were formulated. The study identified interventions such as provision/distribution of free condoms and lubricants, education/risk-reduction counselling, dissemination of HIV preventive information, free HIV testing services, and outreach programmes such as peer-led outreaches, MSM community-based outreach programmes, and online outreach volunteer programmes. The main challenges affecting service providers and MSM included stigmatisation of MSM and service providers, discrimination, criminalisation of same-sex sexual activities, human rights violations, inadequate government funding, financial difficulties, not disclosing HIV/STIs status to sexual partners, skipping counselling and HIV education sessions, and partners' refusal to use condoms. The emerged suggestions for improvement of condom services included legislative amendments, policy reforms, continuous education/counselling, provision of free condoms and lubricants, local production of condoms and sachet lubricants, and applying differentiated service delivery models to improve condom and lubricant distribution. The study identified interventions for the promotion of consistent and correct use of condoms with condom-compatible lubricants among the MSM. It further provides insights into service providers’ and MSM challenges, and proposed strategies for ongoing and future improvement. The above findings could support and guide the design of an evidence-based model to improve consistency and correct use of condoms with condom-compatible lubricants among MSM in Ghana.