Study design

This study has a mixed methods design with two qualitative and two quantitative components. The first quantitative component was a survey which sought to quantify risk behaviours and their correlates. The second quantitative component was a DCE which elicited the preferences of men for a range of tourist partner and relationship characteristics. The qualitative components comprised 17 semi-structured interviews and three focus group discussions (FGDs) and sought to add depth to quantitative measurement, and to capture dynamics not covered by quantitative tools. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected simultaneously and analysed sequentially, the steps of data collection and analysis are as follows. First, scoping discussions were held between the study team, ethics and scientific review committees, and two informal discussions held with potential participants; these discussions guided tool development and reaffirmed the value of the mixed methods approach. Qualitative guides and quantitative tools were developed and implemented, as described below. For analysis, qualitative transcripts were first read in a preliminary analysis–at this stage the dependent and independent variables for quantitative analyses were decided based on emergent findings, alongside the literature. The structure and content of quantitative analyses were informed by these initial qualitative analyses, specifically identifying independent variables and potential associations with dependent variables. The thematic structure arising from preliminary qualitative analysis and the quantitative survey is used to present qualitative and quantitative findings.