Outreach strategies to promote HIV testing and linkage-to-care focusing on a young sexual and gender-diverse population in Bangkok, Thailand
Issued Date
2024-01-01
Resource Type
eISSN
19326203
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85182098335
Pubmed ID
38206975
Journal Title
PLoS ONE
Volume
19
Issue
1 January
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
PLoS ONE Vol.19 No.1 January (2024)
Suggested Citation
Chiaprasert P., Lolekha R., Rungmaitree S., Maleesatharn A., Sethaputra C., Durier Y., Srisoonthonthai P., Pumpradit W., Northbrook S.C., Weerarak P., Chokephaibulkit K. Outreach strategies to promote HIV testing and linkage-to-care focusing on a young sexual and gender-diverse population in Bangkok, Thailand. PLoS ONE Vol.19 No.1 January (2024). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0296130 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/95721
Title
Outreach strategies to promote HIV testing and linkage-to-care focusing on a young sexual and gender-diverse population in Bangkok, Thailand
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Introduction Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevalence among young gender-diverse (a wide range of gender identities for people whose gender identity is different from the sex that they were assigned at birth) individuals is high but testing coverage among this key population remains low. We aim to evaluate strategies for outreach, HIV testing, and linkage to proper management in young men-who-have-had-sex-with-men (MSM, homosexual male) and transgender women (TGW) in Bangkok, Thailand. Methods The “YM2M outreach program” consisted of two strategies: 1) online platforms (OP) and 2) physical outreach activities (POA). Participant questionnaires were completed on a voluntary basis during outreach activities during 2018–2021. Demographic and behavioral characteristics were assessed for association with HIV positivity. Results A total of 3,972 homosexual male and TGW participated in the YM2M program: 2,973 by OP and 999 by POA. Of 2,230 participants who reported gender identity, 603/1,392 (43.3%) of OP and 252/985 (25.6%) of POA were gender diverse. Of 631 (21.2%) participants in OP and 970 (97.1%) in POA who underwent testing, 286 (45.3%) in OP and 41 (4.2%) in POA were HIV-positive. The venue reporting highest HIV yield was the Mor-Lam (11.5%). Among those with an HIV-positive test, 175 (61.2%) from OP and 23 (51.1%) from POA were