Publication: Community-Led Comprehensive HIV Facility for Men who have Sex with Men and Transgender Women: A Case Study of Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand
Issued Date
2021
Resource Type
Language
eng
ISSN
2697-584X (Print)
2697-5866 (Online)
2697-5866 (Online)
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
Department of Community Health Faculty of Public Health Mahidol University
Bibliographic Citation
Thai Journal of Public Health. Vol. 51, No. 2 (May-August 2021), 159-169
Suggested Citation
Rapeepun Jommaroeng, Warangkana Chankong Community-Led Comprehensive HIV Facility for Men who have Sex with Men and Transgender Women: A Case Study of Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand. Thai Journal of Public Health. Vol. 51, No. 2 (May-August 2021), 159-169. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/63648
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Authors
Journal Issue
Thesis
Title
Community-Led Comprehensive HIV Facility for Men who have Sex with Men and Transgender Women: A Case Study of Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand
Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine how an HIV service facility for men
who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) is organized by
the civil society, how this helps increase access to HIV services among these
populations and whether its model can be demonstrated to be comprehensive
HIV care that helps increase health outcomes. The study applied qualitative
approaches, including reviews of relevant laws, policies and documents, and
in-depth interviews to explore the modeling of RSAT Technological Clinic,
Bangkok, Thailand, which is a community-led HIV service facility for MSM and
TGW. In the first half of 2019, 4,917 MSM and 463 TGW clients were reached
by the outreach team. There were 2,739 MSM and 305 TGW clients receiving
HIV testing and 8.6% and 6.2% tested positive respectively. The accumulated
number of MSM and TGW on anti-retroviral treatment was 1,669 and 105 people.
814 MSM and 41 TGW received pre-exposure prophylaxis. These services are
operated by a civil society organization in the form of a technological clinic.
Staff include those with formal education, in addition to community workers.
The clinic has its own database, and technical support is provided by different
stakeholder experts. This community-led HIV service model has helped increase
access for MSM and TGW clients since it is organized by the community
itself, which is more friendly in terms of staffing, service hours, service package
and peer follow-ups. This model should be scaled up, reaching out to more
MSM and TGW, which will help improve health outcomes and ensure equity and
efficiency.