biostudies-literatureHenderson HAustralian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher AwardThe University of MelbourneMarie Stopes Timor-Lestee0002409https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10540955biostudies-literatureUnknown3(9)The uptake of male condoms remains markedly low in The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (Timor-Leste), an island nation in South-East Asia. To understand why, we conducted participatory and operational research about beliefs, understanding and access to male condoms from both a community and healthcare provider perspective. We held 14 participatory group discussions (PGDs) with 175 community participants (84 men, 91 women; aged 18-72) across seven municipalities (Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro, Dili, Lautem, Manufahi, and Oecusse) in 2019. We held individual in-depth interviews (IDIs) with 24 healthcare providers working in the same community catchment areas as the PGDs. Two counsellors, four doctors, fifteen midwives, and three nurses participated (16 women, 8 men; aged 25-56 years). Data werPLOS global public health'It depends on who is asking and why they will use it': Access to male condoms in Timor-Leste.PMC10540955EQUI-T ProgramDE200100264Dame Kate Campbell FellowshipHuman Rights Scholarshipda Silva AMSoares Xavier HAHenderson Hda Silva MVaughan CMendonca SAde Araujo RMBohren MAfalse'It depends on who is asking and why they will use it': Access to male condoms in Timor-Leste.The uptake of male condoms remains markedly low in The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (Timor-Leste), an island nation in South-East Asia. To understand why, we conducted participatory and operational research about beliefs, understanding and access to male condoms from both a community and healthcare provider perspective. We held 14 participatory group discussions (PGDs) with 175 community participants (84 men, 91 women; aged 18-72) across seven municipalities (Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro, Dili, Lautem, Manufahi, and Oecusse) in 2019. We held individual in-depth interviews (IDIs) with 24 healthcare providers working in the same community catchment areas as the PGDs. Two counsellors, four doctors, fifteen midwives, and three nurses participated (16 women, 8 men; aged 25-56 years). Data wer2023-01-01T00:00:00Z20232025-04-19T23:48:35.41Z2025-04-19T23:48:35.41ZS-EPMC105409553777392910.1371/journal.pgph.0002409