Faculty of Public Health, Burapha University, Bang Saen, Chonburi, Thailand.
HASH Community Centre, Manila, Philippines.
PLoS One. 2018 Jul 6;13(7):e0200256. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200256. eCollection 2018.
The Philippines faces a severe HIV epidemic among gay and other men who have sex with men (MSM). HIV testing uptake remains low. A case series of 12 men from Metro Manila were interviewed to explore barriers to uptake of HIV testing services. Most did not see the need to get tested for HIV despite significant risk, based on the misconception they were feeling well or showed no symptoms. Being of a higher socioeconomic class, feeling morally superior to other gay men, distance of the testing facility, fear of what will happen once infected, fear of HIV- and sexual stigma, fear of side effects of antiretroviral drugs and fear of high health care expenses after testing positive for HIV were key reasons why MSM kept postponing their test. Misconceptions about HIV risk, disease, and treatment and care need to be addressed in order to increase uptake of HIV services in this population.
菲律宾男同性恋者和其他男男性行为者（MSM）中存在严重的 HIV 流行，HIV 检测率仍然很低。对来自马尼拉大都市区的 12 名男性进行了病例系列访谈，以探讨他们接受 HIV 检测服务的障碍。尽管存在明显的风险，但大多数人认为没有必要进行 HIV 检测，这是基于他们感觉良好或没有症状的误解。他们社会经济地位较高，自认为比其他男同性恋者更有道德，检测机构的距离，对感染后会发生什么的恐惧，对 HIV 和性污名的恐惧，对艾滋病抗病毒药物副作用的恐惧，以及对 HIV 检测呈阳性后医疗费用的恐惧，这些都是 MSM 不断推迟检测的主要原因。为了增加该人群对 HIV 服务的接受度，需要解决有关 HIV 风险、疾病和治疗的误解。
