Mahalingam P, Watts R, Monica J, Sundari E, Balasubramaniam S, Chakrapani V; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).
Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. TuPeD5068.
Social Welfare Association for Men (SWAM), Chennai, India
Issue: In Chennai, India, symptomatic HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) are reluctant to seek medical care in government and private clinical settings due to stigma and discrimination. Description: Social Welfare Association for Men (SWAM) is a community organization that serves MSM in Chennai, India. Until recently its focus has been on HIV prevention interventions and offering sexual health services. However, it has been witnessing increasing number of symptomatic HIV-infected MSM in Chennai who are reluctant to seek medical care. Especially those HIV-infected MSM who are gender-variant and have associated anal STDs could not pass as "normal" in the health care system and are afraid to seek health care services. Hence SWAM has started an outpatient care center for HIV-positive MSM to offer basic clinical care in a non-judgmental environment. A physician takes care of screening and treatment of milder opportunistic infections, and a counselor offers various counseling servic es including risk-reduction counseling and assists in partner notification. Drugs for opportunistic infections are offered free or partially reimbursed. Those patients who need inpatient care are referred to government hospitals or other inpatient care centers - sometimes accompanied by an outreach worker, if necessary. HIV-infected MSM are reluctant to attend the support groups organized by 'mainstream' positive groups. However, motivating HIV-infected MSM to attend positive MSM group meeting has also been difficult due to confidentiality issues. Lessons learned: Stigma and discrimination can significantly impede the treatment-seeking behavior of HIV-infected MSM there by decreasing the opportunity for early intervention. Discrimination with in the community can hinder HIV-infected MSM to come together. Recommendations: Urgent and intensive efforts need to be taken to create a non-discriminatory and non-judgmental environment for HIV-infected persons of any sexuality in the Indian health care system.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Affect
- Contact Tracing
- Counseling
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Humans
- India
- Male
- Risk Reduction Behavior
- Sexual Behavior
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Other ID:
UI: 102282875
From Meeting Abstracts