TY - JOUR
T1 - Diverse contexts and social factors among young cisgender men and transgender women who sell or trade sex in Bangkok and Pattaya, Thailand
T2 - formative research for a PrEP program implementation study
AU - on behalf of the COPE Study Team
AU - Truong, Jasmine M.
AU - Chemnasiri, Tareerat
AU - Wirtz, Andrea L.
AU - Mon, Sandra Hsu Hnin
AU - Varangrat, Anchalee
AU - Decker, Michele
AU - Janyam, Surang
AU - Linjongrat, Danai
AU - Sirivongrangson, Pachara
AU - Hickey, Andrew C.
AU - Weir, Brian W.
AU - Beyrer, Chris
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - HIV incidence is high and persistent among cisgender men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) who have sex with men, particularly among those who sell or trade sex. In preparation for an open-label combination HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) program for these groups, we conducted formative research to explore the context of sex work/trade and factors that affect implementation of PrEP interventions. This study analyzed interviews with 20 young (aged 18–26 years) MSM and TGW who sell/trade sex and three sex work venue managers in Bangkok and Pattaya, Thailand. Participants described diverse contexts of sex work/trade, including in multiple informal and formal sex venues. Several participants reported mobility across provinces and out of the country, which led to intermittent sex work/trade. TGW sex workers reported challenges with access and cost of femininizing hormones and limited employment opportunities. Factors that could facilitate or challenge PrEP program implementation included HIV stigma, the role of venue management in sexual health practice, lack of PrEP knowledge, lower perceived HIV risk, and interest in personal health and wellbeing. Program implementers must consider myriad factors to successfully implement PrEP among young MSM and TGW engaged in sex work or trade in Thailand.
AB - HIV incidence is high and persistent among cisgender men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) who have sex with men, particularly among those who sell or trade sex. In preparation for an open-label combination HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) program for these groups, we conducted formative research to explore the context of sex work/trade and factors that affect implementation of PrEP interventions. This study analyzed interviews with 20 young (aged 18–26 years) MSM and TGW who sell/trade sex and three sex work venue managers in Bangkok and Pattaya, Thailand. Participants described diverse contexts of sex work/trade, including in multiple informal and formal sex venues. Several participants reported mobility across provinces and out of the country, which led to intermittent sex work/trade. TGW sex workers reported challenges with access and cost of femininizing hormones and limited employment opportunities. Factors that could facilitate or challenge PrEP program implementation included HIV stigma, the role of venue management in sexual health practice, lack of PrEP knowledge, lower perceived HIV risk, and interest in personal health and wellbeing. Program implementers must consider myriad factors to successfully implement PrEP among young MSM and TGW engaged in sex work or trade in Thailand.
KW - HIV
KW - Thailand
KW - men who have sex with men
KW - pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
KW - sex work
KW - transgender women
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U2 - 10.1080/09540121.2022.2067317
DO - 10.1080/09540121.2022.2067317
M3 - Article
C2 - 35473429
AN - SCOPUS:85130023433
SN - 0954-0121
VL - 34
SP - 1443
EP - 1451
JO - AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
JF - AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
IS - 11
ER -