Characteristics of men who have sex with men and transgender women in Myanmar who test frequently for HIV

# Background HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW) in Myanmar is increasing and less than half report having a HIV test in the past 12 months. The promotion of regular testing among this group has been identified as a key priority of the national HIV respon...

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Main Authors: Vanessa Veronese, Zaw Min Oo, Zaw Win Thein, Bridget Draper, Poe Poe Aung, Claire Ryan, Myo Thant, Chad Hughes, Mark Stoové
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Inishmore Laser Scientific Publishing Ltd 2018-10-01
Series:Journal of Global Health Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.29392/joghr.2.e2018040
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author Vanessa Veronese
Zaw Min Oo
Zaw Win Thein
Bridget Draper
Poe Poe Aung
Claire Ryan
Myo Thant
Chad Hughes
Mark Stoové
author_facet Vanessa Veronese
Zaw Min Oo
Zaw Win Thein
Bridget Draper
Poe Poe Aung
Claire Ryan
Myo Thant
Chad Hughes
Mark Stoové
author_sort Vanessa Veronese
collection DOAJ
description # Background HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW) in Myanmar is increasing and less than half report having a HIV test in the past 12 months. The promotion of regular testing among this group has been identified as a key priority of the national HIV response, yet there remains limited information on HIV testing patterns and frequency among MSM and TW. # Methods A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted among self-identifying MSM and TW in November 2015 recruited from known hot-spot locations in Yangon and Mandalay to characterise the self-reported HIV testing frequencies among MSM and TW and explore factors associated with high frequency HIV testing. # Results Among 353 HIV negative or unknown MSM and TW, more than half were identified as high frequency testers based on their regular HIV testing routine and date of last HIV test; this was significantly associated with reporting recent sex with regular male partners and location of last HIV test. # Conclusion Our findings contrast with national data suggesting sub-optimal testing uptake and support HIV testing delivered through community-based, tailored HIV testing services and the role of such models in establishing and maintaining regular HIV testing behaviours among MSM and TW in Myanmar.
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spelling doaj-art-3164c33eb8ee4ae19dad52fb8646a8492025-08-20T03:45:27ZengInishmore Laser Scientific Publishing LtdJournal of Global Health Reports2399-16232018-10-01210.29392/joghr.2.e2018040Characteristics of men who have sex with men and transgender women in Myanmar who test frequently for HIVVanessa VeroneseZaw Min OoZaw Win TheinBridget DraperPoe Poe AungClaire RyanMyo ThantChad HughesMark Stoové# Background HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW) in Myanmar is increasing and less than half report having a HIV test in the past 12 months. The promotion of regular testing among this group has been identified as a key priority of the national HIV response, yet there remains limited information on HIV testing patterns and frequency among MSM and TW. # Methods A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted among self-identifying MSM and TW in November 2015 recruited from known hot-spot locations in Yangon and Mandalay to characterise the self-reported HIV testing frequencies among MSM and TW and explore factors associated with high frequency HIV testing. # Results Among 353 HIV negative or unknown MSM and TW, more than half were identified as high frequency testers based on their regular HIV testing routine and date of last HIV test; this was significantly associated with reporting recent sex with regular male partners and location of last HIV test. # Conclusion Our findings contrast with national data suggesting sub-optimal testing uptake and support HIV testing delivered through community-based, tailored HIV testing services and the role of such models in establishing and maintaining regular HIV testing behaviours among MSM and TW in Myanmar.https://doi.org/10.29392/joghr.2.e2018040
spellingShingle Vanessa Veronese
Zaw Min Oo
Zaw Win Thein
Bridget Draper
Poe Poe Aung
Claire Ryan
Myo Thant
Chad Hughes
Mark Stoové
Characteristics of men who have sex with men and transgender women in Myanmar who test frequently for HIV
Journal of Global Health Reports
title Characteristics of men who have sex with men and transgender women in Myanmar who test frequently for HIV
title_full Characteristics of men who have sex with men and transgender women in Myanmar who test frequently for HIV
title_fullStr Characteristics of men who have sex with men and transgender women in Myanmar who test frequently for HIV
title_full_unstemmed Characteristics of men who have sex with men and transgender women in Myanmar who test frequently for HIV
title_short Characteristics of men who have sex with men and transgender women in Myanmar who test frequently for HIV
title_sort characteristics of men who have sex with men and transgender women in myanmar who test frequently for hiv
url https://doi.org/10.29392/joghr.2.e2018040
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