Engaging with Men Who Have Sex with Men in the Clinical Setting

Engaging MSM in the Clinical Setting
This 2011 primer published by the MSMGF is intended to serve as a guide on information related to men who have sex with men (MSM) for physicians, nurses, and other health care providers delivering HIV and primary care services in diverse clinical settings. Longstanding evidence indicates that MSM experience significant barriers to quality health care due to widespread stigma against homosexuality in mainstream society and within health systems. Social discrimination against MSM, or homophobia,a has also been described as a key driver of poor health outcomes in this population across diverse settings. In nearly every country around the world, MSM are disproportionately burdened with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) when compared to the general adult population. Higher rates of depression, anxiety, smoking, alcohol abuse, substance use, and suicide have been reported among MSM as a result of chronic stress and disconnection from a range of social services and support mechanisms.
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Young Men Who Have Sex with Men: Health, Access, & HIV

Young Men Who Have Sex with Men: Health, Access, & HIV
Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) face the heightened risks of both populations, as well as a number of vulnerabilities that are unique to YMSM. Despite the clear need for intervention, YMSM are often left out of research, policy, and programs designed for general MSM, general youth, and the general population. While data on HIV among YMSM are extremely
limited, existing studies show high HIV prevalence among YMSM around the world.

This policy brief examines HIV risk factors and access to services among YMSM using data from the Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF)’s 2012 Global Men’s Health and
Rights survey (2012 GMHR). The brief concludes with a set of recommendations for addressing the global HIV epidemic among YMSM.

Speaking Out: A Toolkit for MSM-led HIV & AIDS Advocacy

Speaking Out: A Toolkit for MSM-led HIV & AIDS Advocacy
This toolkit was published in 2011 by MSMGF to fulfill a need that exists for men who have sex with men (MSM) everywhere to engage in advocacy locally, nationally, and globally as a means to end the HIV epidemic and to secure fulfilling, meaningful futures. The toolkit is built upon other toolkits, with some key differences:

it is specifically MSM-focused with exercises and ideas that serve as conduits for MSM community energy and contribution;
it believes that organizations can start where they are, and assumes the skill sets and organizational maturity of MSM individuals and groups are wide-ranging and take time to develop; and
it approaches HIV & AIDS from a broad human rights framework, balancing public health and human rights approaches toward addressing MSM community susceptibility to HIV.

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Technical Bulletin Compendium: HIV Prevention and Treatment Strategies for MSM

Technical Bulletin Compendium: HIV Prevention and Treatment Strategies for MSM
Intended as a primer for MSM advocates and service providers, this series covers key interventions and frameworks that have been central to the current global dialogues on HIV prevention, treatment and care. Topics were identified and prioritized based on results of the MSMGF’s 2010 Global Men’s Health and Rights study (GMHR), which surveyed more than 5,000 MSM worldwide regarding access to and knowledge of the current spectrum of HIV prevention strategies. Each bulletin was developed utilizing a balanced approach, highlighting both the benefits and challenges of a given intervention based on existing evidence.

The Global HIV Epidemics among Sex Workers

The Global HIV Epidemics among Sex Workers
Since the beginning of the epidemic sex workers have experienced a heightened burden of HIV. Unfortunately, sex workers’ HIV and health-related risks and rights have often gone unattended and global resource allocation related to HIV prevention, treatment and care has not been based on rigorous analysis in terms of the evidence related to sex work and HIV. To inform an equitable, effective, and sustainable response to HIV which promotes and protects the human rights of sex workers, the following questions were addressed in this analysis, focusing largely on female sex workers from lower and middle income countries:

What is the global burden of HIV among sex workers? How do sex worker HIV burdens compare to the general population? How does this vary by region?
How does the policy and social context shape sex workers’ HIV risk across geographic settings? How does this context influence the provision and coverage of HIV services?
To what extent can comprehensive HIV prevention at-scale among sex workers modify HIV transmission dynamics among sex workers and the general population?
What are the most cost-effective HIV prevention, treatment, and care interventions in the context of sex work? What combinations of services are most cost-effective?
Given this evidence, what are the implications for allocative efficiency in HIV prevention programs?
How does violence against sex workers affect their health and human rights and HIV transmission dynamics among sex workers and the general population across settings?
What has been the role of sex worker leadership in promoting the human rights of and reducing the burden of and risks for HIV infection among sex workers across contexts?

‘SWIT’ – Implementing Comprehensive HIV/STI Programs with Sex Workers (Policy Brief)

Implementing Comprehensive HIV/STI Programs with Sex Workers
This tool, commonly abbreviated as ‘SWIT,’ is the product of collaboration among sex workers, service providers, researchers, government officials, and NGOs from around the world. Its development was guided by WHO, UNFPA, UNAIDS, NSWP, the World Bank, and development partners from the US, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The purpose of this tool is to describe approaches and principles to building programmes. Guidance is provided on how to implement the recommended health-care interventions for HIV prevention, treatment and care, how to manage programmes, and how to build the capacity of sex worker organizations. Throughout the document are case examples from programmes around the world, highlighting specific aspects related to sex worker programming that have worked well in their contexts. These case examples illustrate how an issue or challenge has been addressed, and to inspire ideas about approaches that could work in the reader’s own context.

The full-text document is also available. 

Year of publication: 
2013

Civil Society and Key Populations and the Country Dialogue Process, Guidance Note: Navigating the New

Civil Society and Key Populations and the Country Dialogue Process, Guidance Note: Navigating the New
This guidance document, the second in the series Navigating the New Funding Model, is intended as a tool for civil society organizations which are engaged in, leading, or monitoring country dialogues. An explanation of the key features and expected outcomes of the country dialogue process is followed by a discussion of country dialogues in practice over the past year. A review of existing analyses and interviews with civil society participants in country dialogues inform a discussion of the principles of effective country dialogues. For the purposes of this document, “effective” country dialogues are those which include significant and meaningful civil society and key population participation and inform a concept note which reflects the true nature of a country’s epidemics and an inclusive strategy for combating them.