“I Am a Good Example”: Suggestions From HIV-Infected Cambodians for Preventing HIV Infection in Marital Relationships

Developing effective and influential messages for HIV prevention in marriage has been difficult. We explored couple-based HIV prevention measures that would be socially and culturally suitable for Cambodia. Thirty in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with people living with HIV in the local Khmer language. Using thematic analysis, codes and themes were generated to get to the meanings of participant data. Male and female suggestions were analyzed together, and four themes emerged: (a) Safer practices, (b) Trustworthy relationships, (c) Sexual variety, and (d) Exemplar. Premarital HIV testing, grooming oneself, sexual variety within a married relationship, monogamy, and sex education for teenagers were significant suggestions derived from participant input about protecting spouses from HIV infection. The explained strategies illustrated the importance of gender-based prevention programs in Cambodia and provided insight about needed and possible interventions to prevent HIV transmission within marriage.