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To explore men who have sex with men's views about condom use when having anal intercourse.

Internationally, health promotion campaigns use behavioural change strategies to support men who have sex with men to always use condoms when having anal sex with other men. The health promotion message given to this group is consistent and explicitly stated that ‘use a condom every time for anal sex regardless of relationship status’.

Qualitative analysis of data from a cohort of New Zealand men who have sex with men.

A total of 960 useable questionnaires were completed: 571 online and 389 in hard copy. Qualitative data were analysed using a thematic data analytic process.

Three themes relating to condom use in men who have sex with men were identified. These are as follows: ‘Safer sex is good sex’, ‘Condom use is good but …’ and ‘I use …