A Qualitative Study of Young Men Who Have Sex With Men and Multilevel Factors Related to HIV Risks in Malaysia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2018
Abstract
Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) are a group at high risk for HIV infection, yet no research has been conducted to understand this population in Malaysia. Semistructured interviews from a combination of YMSM aged 18–25 (n = 20) and local service providers of sexual health services (n = 4) were conducted from May to June 2015. Thematic analysis was used to identify common themes in participant responses from transcripts. Participants reported societal and internalized homophobia, an absence of sex education and difficulty accessing confidential HIV testing. This study provides insights into how homophobia in Malaysian society influences individual risk behavior for HIV in Malaysian YMSM, and makes practical suggestions for more effective HIV prevention in this population.
Keywords
Adolescent, Adult, Confidentiality, Discrimination (Psychology), Health Services Accessibility, HIV Infections, Homophobia, Homosexuality, Male, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Malaysia, Male, Mass Screening, Qualitative Research, Risk-Taking, Sex Education, Sexual and Gender Minorities, Social Stigma, Young Adult
Divisions
ceria
Funders
Faculty of Public Health, British Medical and Dental Student Trust,Lord Mayor 800th Anniversary Trust,University College London, the Hayes (Kent) Trust,University of Malaya High Impact Research Grant (E000001-20001)
Publication Title
AIDS Education and Prevention
Volume
30
Issue
2
Publisher
Guilford Press