The dire sexual health crisis among MSM in the Philippines: an exploding HIV epidemic in the absence of essential health services

Allen G P Ross; Rossana A Ditangco; Jose G Belimac; Remigio M Olveda; Edelwisa S Mercado; Thao N P Chau; Suzanne M Crowe

doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2015.06.001

The dire sexual health crisis among MSM in the Philippines: an exploding HIV epidemic in the absence of essential health services

Int J Infect Dis. 2015 Aug:37:6-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2015.06.001. Epub 2015 Jun 10.

Authors

Allen G P Ross¹, Rossana A Ditangco², Jose G Belimac², Remigio M Olveda², Edelwisa S Mercado², Thao N P Chau³, Suzanne M Crowe⁴

Affiliations

¹ Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Australia. Electronic address: a.ross@griffith.edu.au.
² National HIV/STI Prevention Program, Department of Health, The Philippines.
³ Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Australia.
⁴ Department of Virology, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.

PMID: 26072039
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2015.06.001

Abstract

The rate of HIV is exploding in the men who have sex with men (MSM) population in the Philippines. There is a paucity of information with respect to sexual behaviour, condom use, psychological health, and the prevalence of other STIs in the MSM subpopulation. At present there are no existing private or public clinical services in the country that focus on health services of MSM. We discuss the current epidemic situation and the steps needed to further define the rapidly evolving epidemic among MSM.

Keywords: Epidemic; HIV; Health Services; MSM; Philippines.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Condoms / statistics & numerical data*
Epidemics*
HIV Infections / epidemiology*
Health Services
Homosexuality, Male* / psychology
Humans
Male
Philippines / epidemiology
Prevalence
Reproductive Health*