Perspectives of migrant men who have sex with men and professionals on personal, social and structural barriers and facilitators to sexual healthcare access and outreach strategies: A qualitative study
Background: Migrant men who have sex with men (mMSM) carry a disproportionate burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) yet encounter unique barriers to accessing sexual healthcare. This qualitative study explored mMSM’s and professionals’ perspectives regarding mMSM’s personal, social and st...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Migration and Health |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666623525000418 |
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| author | Chrissy PB Moonen Christian JPA Hoebe Casper DJ den Heijer Jill Buursma Marita ILS Werner Ymke J Evers Nicole HTM Dukers-Muijrers |
| author_facet | Chrissy PB Moonen Christian JPA Hoebe Casper DJ den Heijer Jill Buursma Marita ILS Werner Ymke J Evers Nicole HTM Dukers-Muijrers |
| author_sort | Chrissy PB Moonen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Migrant men who have sex with men (mMSM) carry a disproportionate burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) yet encounter unique barriers to accessing sexual healthcare. This qualitative study explored mMSM’s and professionals’ perspectives regarding mMSM’s personal, social and structural barriers and facilitators to Dutch sexual healthcare access and outreach strategies. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 15 mMSM (aged ≥16) and 10 professionals from various organisations working with mMSM. mMSM were recruited via sexual health nurses at three STI clinics of a Dutch Public Health Service and flyers; professionals via email, flyers, and the project team’s network. Transcripts were analysed thematically using deductive and inductive coding by two researchers, ensuring intercoder agreement. Results: Key facilitators for sexual healthcare access included supportive social networks, in-person consultations, and culturally and LGBTQ+-sensitive staff. Main barriers involved fear of stigma rooted in cultural and religious beliefs, limited awareness of available services, and language-related challenges. Suggested outreach strategies included dating app advertisements, short multilingual videos, and translated posters in venues frequented by mMSM (e.g., bars and schools). Notably, most participants accessed services through personal referrals, underlining the importance of including social networks in outreach strategies. Conclusions: Addressing personal, social and structural barriers while enhancing facilitators contributes to more inclusive and equitable sexual healthcare services. Besides, increasing reach of mMSM through the dissemination of tailored information via social networks, digital platforms, and community settings further supports this objective. These findings inform strategies aimed at reducing health disparities and contribute to broader STI, HIV, and hepatitis prevention goals. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-92e54e381fef4ae9a2e43cf90cb93e58 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2666-6235 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Migration and Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-92e54e381fef4ae9a2e43cf90cb93e582025-08-20T03:30:09ZengElsevierJournal of Migration and Health2666-62352025-01-011210034210.1016/j.jmh.2025.100342Perspectives of migrant men who have sex with men and professionals on personal, social and structural barriers and facilitators to sexual healthcare access and outreach strategies: A qualitative studyChrissy PB Moonen0Christian JPA Hoebe1Casper DJ den Heijer2Jill Buursma3Marita ILS Werner4Ymke J Evers5Nicole HTM Dukers-Muijrers6Department of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health, Living Lab Public Health Mosa, South Limburg Public Health Service, Heerlen, the Netherlands; Department of Social Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Corresponding author at: Department of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health, Living Lab Public Health Mosa, Heerlen, The Netherlands.Department of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health, Living Lab Public Health Mosa, South Limburg Public Health Service, Heerlen, the Netherlands; Department of Social Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Medical Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Infection Prevention, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), Maastricht, the NetherlandsDepartment of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health, Living Lab Public Health Mosa, South Limburg Public Health Service, Heerlen, the Netherlands; Department of Social Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the NetherlandsDepartment of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health, Living Lab Public Health Mosa, South Limburg Public Health Service, Heerlen, the NetherlandsDepartment of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health, Living Lab Public Health Mosa, South Limburg Public Health Service, Heerlen, the NetherlandsDepartment of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health, Living Lab Public Health Mosa, South Limburg Public Health Service, Heerlen, the NetherlandsDepartment of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health, Living Lab Public Health Mosa, South Limburg Public Health Service, Heerlen, the Netherlands; Department of Health Promotion, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the NetherlandsBackground: Migrant men who have sex with men (mMSM) carry a disproportionate burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) yet encounter unique barriers to accessing sexual healthcare. This qualitative study explored mMSM’s and professionals’ perspectives regarding mMSM’s personal, social and structural barriers and facilitators to Dutch sexual healthcare access and outreach strategies. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 15 mMSM (aged ≥16) and 10 professionals from various organisations working with mMSM. mMSM were recruited via sexual health nurses at three STI clinics of a Dutch Public Health Service and flyers; professionals via email, flyers, and the project team’s network. Transcripts were analysed thematically using deductive and inductive coding by two researchers, ensuring intercoder agreement. Results: Key facilitators for sexual healthcare access included supportive social networks, in-person consultations, and culturally and LGBTQ+-sensitive staff. Main barriers involved fear of stigma rooted in cultural and religious beliefs, limited awareness of available services, and language-related challenges. Suggested outreach strategies included dating app advertisements, short multilingual videos, and translated posters in venues frequented by mMSM (e.g., bars and schools). Notably, most participants accessed services through personal referrals, underlining the importance of including social networks in outreach strategies. Conclusions: Addressing personal, social and structural barriers while enhancing facilitators contributes to more inclusive and equitable sexual healthcare services. Besides, increasing reach of mMSM through the dissemination of tailored information via social networks, digital platforms, and community settings further supports this objective. These findings inform strategies aimed at reducing health disparities and contribute to broader STI, HIV, and hepatitis prevention goals.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666623525000418Men who have sex with menUnderserved populationsHealth services accessibilitySexual HealthcareHealth Disparity |
| spellingShingle | Chrissy PB Moonen Christian JPA Hoebe Casper DJ den Heijer Jill Buursma Marita ILS Werner Ymke J Evers Nicole HTM Dukers-Muijrers Perspectives of migrant men who have sex with men and professionals on personal, social and structural barriers and facilitators to sexual healthcare access and outreach strategies: A qualitative study Journal of Migration and Health Men who have sex with men Underserved populations Health services accessibility Sexual Healthcare Health Disparity |
| title | Perspectives of migrant men who have sex with men and professionals on personal, social and structural barriers and facilitators to sexual healthcare access and outreach strategies: A qualitative study |
| title_full | Perspectives of migrant men who have sex with men and professionals on personal, social and structural barriers and facilitators to sexual healthcare access and outreach strategies: A qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Perspectives of migrant men who have sex with men and professionals on personal, social and structural barriers and facilitators to sexual healthcare access and outreach strategies: A qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perspectives of migrant men who have sex with men and professionals on personal, social and structural barriers and facilitators to sexual healthcare access and outreach strategies: A qualitative study |
| title_short | Perspectives of migrant men who have sex with men and professionals on personal, social and structural barriers and facilitators to sexual healthcare access and outreach strategies: A qualitative study |
| title_sort | perspectives of migrant men who have sex with men and professionals on personal social and structural barriers and facilitators to sexual healthcare access and outreach strategies a qualitative study |
| topic | Men who have sex with men Underserved populations Health services accessibility Sexual Healthcare Health Disparity |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666623525000418 |
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