Journal article
Factors influencing access to sexual health care among behaviorally bisexual men in Vientiane, Laos: A qualitative exploration
AL Bowring, N Pasomsouk, P Higgs, V Sychareun, M Hellard, R Power
Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health | SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC | Published : 2015
Abstract
In Laos, men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV, and bisexual behavior among men is common. We conducted a qualitative study to explore access and influences on sexual health care seeking among bisexual men in Vientiane. In 2013, behaviorally bisexual men were recruited from bars, clubs and dormitories for 5 focus group discussions and 11 in-depth interviews. Participants (aged 18-35 years) commonly reported high-risk sexual behaviors, yet most had never been tested for HIV, and none reported testing for sexually transmitted infections. Common barriers to testing were low perception of risk, expectation of symptoms, fear of HIV, shyness, perceived stigma, conf..
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Funding Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the contribution to this work of the Victorian Operational Infrastructure Support Program received by the Burnet Institute. This work forms part of the PhD of AB, who is supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) through Monash University. MH is a recipient of an NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship and PH is supported by a Curtin University Research Fellowship.