Population Council Research that makes a difference

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Men who have sex with men (MSM) are deterred from seeking HIV services because their behaviors are stigmatized and often criminalized. And health care providers often are ill-equipped to address the specific and sensitive needs of MSM when they do access services.

Limited information on MSM in many settings has made it difficult for policymakers and public health professionals to design and implement evidence-based policies and programs to effectively meet the sexual and psychosocial health needs of MSM.

Population Council focus

The Council is a leader in bringing the issue of MSM in Africa to the forefront, advocating for their health needs to policymakers and piloting and evaluating programs to fill the gaps in health and prevention services for this diverse population. Council researchers have conducted descriptive studies of MSM networks and risk behaviors, examined the impact of stigma and discrimination on health-seeking behaviors, worked with health providers and MSM themselves to build appropriate services, and were the first to use capture-recapture methods to enumerate male sex workers.

Population Council impact

    • Council research on MSM informed national AIDS programs in Kenya, Mali, and Senegal and formed the basis for interventions.
    • In 2008, the Council and Kenya’s National AIDS Control Council convened representatives from national HIV programs from ten countries in sub-Saharan Africa in a groundbreaking consultation that identified research and programmatic priorities for reaching and addressing the HIV needs of MSM.
    • The Council conducted one of the first studies to examine heterosexual anal intercourse behaviors among male sex workers who sell sex to men in Mombasa, Kenya. The study showed that while vaginal intercourse is the more widely practiced behavior among male sex workers who sell sex to men, a substantial number are also engaging in anal intercourse with women.
    • In Nigeria, the Council initiated the Men’s Health Network, Nigeria (MHNN), the first national, comprehensive HIV/STI prevention intervention targeting high-risk men, including MSM, injecting and non-injecting drug users, transport workers, and clients of female sex workers. The network has reached over 46,700 clients with HIV testing and counseling.

Future directions

    • Building on the success of the MHNN project in Nigeria, the Council continues to expand the reach of the MHNN and to add community-based HIV care and support services for MSM and their partners in Kaduna and Lagos metropolis.
    • In Zambia, the Council is assessing different vulnerable populations, including MSM, and conducting an integrated biological-behavioral survey that will provide the first measures of the size of these populations and their HIV risks and needs.

Projects

Documenting Avahan, the India AIDS Initiative (more)
The Population Council is synthesizing and analyzing the wealth of data collected by Avahan to gain insight that will guide future initiatives for HIV prevention in India and other countries with similar concentrated epidemics.
(1/2009 - 1/2014)
India

Men’s Health Network Nigeria: Providing Appropriate and Comprehensive Sexual Health and HIV Prevention Services (more)
The Men’s Health Network Nigeria seeks to ensure that all men in Nigeria receive appropriate, comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention services and targets populations considered most at risk.
(10/2008 - 10/2013)
Nigeria

Biological and Behavioral Surveillance of Most-at-risk Populations in Kenya (more)
In collaboration with the Kenyan government and partners, Council researchers are implementing the first HIV biological and behavioral surveillance surveys to facilitate, inform, and evaluate the impact of HIV preventive interventions for most-at-risk populations (men who have sex with men, sex workers, and injecting drug users).
(7/2010 - 2/2012)
Kenya

Resources

Male sex workers who sell sex to men also engage in anal intercourse with women: Evidence from Mombasa, Kenya (abstract) (HTML
Mannava,Priya; Geibel,Scott; King'ola,Nzioki; Temmerman,Marleen; Luchters,Stanley
PLoS ONE 8(1): e52547-
Publication date: 2013


Same-sex sexual behavior of men in Kenya: Implications for HIV prevention, programs, and policy (abstract) (PDF
Geibel,Scott
Facts, Views, & Vision in ObGyn 4(4): 285-294
Publication date: 2013


"Addressing HIV among the most at-risk populations," fact sheet (PDF
Population Council
Publication date: 2012


"The Population Council's HIV and AIDS program," fact sheet (PDF
Population Council
Publication date: 2012


A decade of research involving men who have sex with men in sub-Saharan Africa: Current knowledge and future directions (abstract) (PDF
Muraguri,Nicholas; Temmerman,Marleen; Geibel,Scott
Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS 9(3): 137-147
Publication date: 2012


An ethnographic study of injecting drug users and men who have sex with men in selected states in Nigeria (PDF
Enhancing Nigeria's HIV/AIDS Response (ENR) Programme
Publication date: 2012


Biological and behavioural surveillance for most at-risk populations in Kenya (PDF
from Most-at-Risk Populations: Unveiling New Evidence for Accelerated Programming, pp. 1-5
Publication date: 2012


Changing epidemiology of HIV in Mumbai: An application of the Asian epidemic model (abstract) (PDF
Mishra,Ram Manohar; Dube,Madhulika; Sahu,Damodar; Saggurti,Niranjan; Pandey,Arvind
Global Journal of Health Science 4(5): 100-112
Publication date: 2012


Evidence for action: Quarterly newsletter of the Population Council, Nigeria (PDF
Issue no. 1, April
Publication date: 2012


HIV-related conspiracy beliefs and its relationships with HIV testing and unprotected sex among men who have sex with men in Tshwane (Pretoria), South Africa (abstract
Tun,Waimar; Kellerman,Scott E.; Maime,Senkhu; Fipaza,Zukiswa; Sheehy,Meredith; Vu,Lung; Nel,Dawie
AIDS Care 24(4): 459-467
Publication date: 2012


Levels and correlates of internalized homophobia among men who have sex with men in Pretoria, South Africa (abstract
Vu,Lung; Tun,Waimar; Sheehy,Meredith; Nel,Dawie
AIDS and Behavior 16(3): 717-723
Publication date: 2012


MARPs sensitization: A diversity training guide for health care providers in Nigeria (PDF
Enhancing Nigeria's HIV/AIDS Response (ENR) Programme
Series 1: Working with Men who have Sex with Men (MSM)
Publication date: 2012


The experiences of men engaged in transactional sex with other men in urban Nigeria--A size estimation and qualitative study (PDF
Population Council
Publication date: 2012


The impact of peer outreach on HIV knowledge and prevention behaviours of male sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya (abstract
Geibel,Scott; King'ola,Nzioki; Temmerman,Marleen; Luchters,Stanley
Sexually Transmitted Infections 88(5): 357-362
Publication date: 2012


Using capture-recapture methodology for enumerating most-at-risk populations (MARPs) (PDF
Population Council
Publication date: 2012


HIV integrated biological and behavioural surveillance survey (IBBSS) 2010 (PDF
Federal Ministry of Health
Publication date: 2011


Levels and correlates of unprotected anal intercourse and not testing for HIV among men who have sex with men in Abuja, Lagos and Ibadan, Nigeria (abstract) (PDF
Poster presentation at the 6th International AIDS Society Conference, Rome, Italy, 17-20 July
Vu,Lung; Adebajo,Sylvia; Sheehy,Meredith; Tun,Waimar; Karlyn,Andrew; Anene,Oliver; Sangowawa,Segun; Toyese,Akinade; Ankomah,Augustine; Balami,Wada; Ahonsi,Babatunde
Publication date: 2011


Population-based estimates of prevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV and HIV-related risk behaviors among male injecting drug users in Lagos, Nigeria (abstract) (PDF
Presentation at the 6th International AIDS Society Conference, Rome, Italy, 17-20 July
Tun,Waimar; Adebajo,Sylvia; Abiodun,Lolade; Karlyn,Andrew; Vu,Lung; Anyanti,Jennifer; Kawu,Issa; Sheehy,Meredith
Publication date: 2011


Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men and injecting drug users and validation of audio computer-assisted self interview (ACASI) technique in Abuja, Lagos, and Ibadan, Nigeria: Report fact sheet (PDF
Enhancing Nigeria's HIV/AIDS Response (ENR) Programme
Publication date: 2011


Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men and injecting drug users and validation of audio computer-assisted self interview (ACASI) technique in Abuja, Lagos, and Ibadan, Nigeria: Technical report (PDF
Enhancing Nigeria's HIV/AIDS Response (ENR) Programme
Publication date: 2011


Understanding the HIV risk and sexual health needs of men who have sex with men (PDF
Population Briefs 17(1)
Publication date: 2011


Use of AUDIT, and measures of drinking frequency and patterns to detect associations between alcohol and sexual behaviour in male sex workers in Kenya (abstract) (PDF
Luchters,Stanley; Geibel,Scott; Syengo,Masila; Lang'o,Daniel; King'ola,Nzioki; Temmerman,Marleen; Chersich,Matthew F.
BMC Public Health 11: 384-
Publication date: 2011


HIV vulnerability of men who have sex with men in developing countries: Horizons studies, 2001-2008 (abstract
Geibel,Scott; Tun,Waimar; Tapsoba,Placide; Kellerman,Scott E.
Public Health Reports 125(2): 316-324
Publication date: 2010


Looking back, moving forward: Understanding the HIV risk and sexual health needs of men who have sex with men, Horizons studies 2001 to 2008 (PDF
Geibel,Scott; Tun,Waimar; Tapsoba,Placide; Kellerman,Scott E.
Horizons Synthesis Background Papers
Publication date: 2010


Engaging men who have sex with men in operations research in Kenya (abstract
Onyango-Ouma,Washington; Birungi,Harriet; Geibel,Scott
Culture, Health and Sexuality 11(8): 827-839
Publication date: 2009


Medical response to male same-sex sexuality in western India: An exploration of 'conversion treatments' for homosexuality (PDF
Ranade,Ketki
Health and Population Innovation Fellowship Programme Working Paper (no. 8)
Publication date: 2009


Men who have sex with men and HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa (abstract) (PDF
Smith,Adrian D.; Tapsoba,Placide; Peshu,Norbert; Sanders,Eduard J.; Jaffe,Harold W.
Lancet 374(9687): 416-422
Publication date: 2009


Social context, sexual risk perceptions and stigma: HIV vulnerability among male sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya (abstract
Okal,Jerry; Luchters,Stanley; Geibel,Scott; Chersich,Matthew F.; Lango,Daniel; Temmerman,Marleen
Culture, Health and Sexuality 11(8): 811-826
Publication date: 2009


The overlooked epidemic: Addressing HIV prevention and treatment among men who have sex with men in sub-Saharan Africa (PDF
National AIDS Control Council of Kenya; Population Council
Publication date: 2009


Addressing the HIV prevention needs of men who have sex with men in Africa (PDF
Population Briefs 14(2)
Publication date: 2008


Assessment of risk factors for HIV infection among men who have sex with men in the metropolitan area of Campinas City, Brazil, using respondent-driven sampling (PDF
de Mello,Maeve; de Araujo Pinho,Adriana; Chinaglia,Magda; Tun,Waimar; Barbosa Junior,Aristides; Ilario,Maria Cristina F.J.; Reis,Paulo; Salles,Regina C.S.; Westman,Suzanne; Diaz,Juan
Horizons Final Report
Publication date: 2008


Assessment of risk factors for HIV infection in female sex workers and men who have sex with men in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay (PDF
Chinaglia,Magda; Tun,Waimar; Mello,Maeve; Insfran,Magdalena; Diaz,Juan
Horizons Final Report
Publication date: 2008


Exploring context and dynamics of homosexual experiences among rural youth in India (abstract) (HTML
Singh,Ajay Kumar; Mahendra,Vaishali Sharma; Verma,Ravi K.
Journal of LGBT Health Research 4(2,3): 89-101
Publication date: 2008


Factors associated with self-reported unprotected anal sex among male sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya (abstract
Geibel,Scott; Luchters,Stanley; King'ola,Nzioki; Esu-Williams,Eka; Rinyiru,Agnes; Tun,Waimar
Sexually Transmitted Diseases 35(8): 746-752
Publication date: 2008


Sexual risk behaviours and HIV seroprevalence among male sex workers who have sex with men and non-sex workers in Campinas, Brazil (abstract
Tun,Waimar; de Mello,Maeve; Pinho,Adriana A.; Chinaglia,Magda; Diaz,Juan
Sexually Transmitted Infections 84(6): 455-457
Publication date: 2008


'Are you on the market?': A capture-recapture enumeration of men who sell sex to men in and around Mombasa, Kenya (abstract
Geibel,Scott; van der Elst,Elisabeth M.; King'ola,Nzioki; Luchters,Stanley; Davies,Alun; Getambu,Esther M.; Peshu,Norbert; Graham,Susan M.; McClelland,R.Scott; Sanders,Eduard J.
AIDS 21(10): 1349-1354
Publication date: 2007


Challenges for the sexual health and social acceptance of men who have sex with men in Nigeria (abstract) (PDF
Allman,Dan; Adebajo,Sylvia; Myers,Ted; Odumuye,Oludare; Ogunsola,Sade
Culture, Health and Sexuality 9(2): 153-168
Publication date: 2007


Conspiracy beliefs and trust in information about HIV/AIDS among minority men who have sex with men (abstract
Hutchinson,Angela B.; Begley,Elin B.; Sullivan,Patrick; Clark,Hollie A.; Boyett,Brian C.; Kellerman,Scott E.
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 45(5): 603-605
Publication date: 2007


Implementing STI/HIV prevention and care interventions for men who have sex with men in Senegal (PDF
Moreau,Amadou; Tapsoba,Placide; Ly,Abdoulaye; Niang,Cheikh Ibrahima; Diop,Abdou Khoudia
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2007


Context and dynamics of male-to-male sexual behavior of truckers in India: Findings from a multi-site qualitative research study (PDF
Verma,Ravi K.; Mahendra,Vaishali Sharma; Pelto,Pertti J.; Pradhan,Sarat Chandra; Singh,Vibha
Research Brief
Publication date: 2006


Context and dynamics of same-sex behavior among long-distance truckers in India: Findings from qualitative research (PDF
Mahendra,Vaishali Sharma; Verma,Ravi K.; Pelto,Pertti J.; Pradhan,Sarat Chandra; Singh,Vibha; Rao,Asha; Vij,Tarun
Publication date: 2006


Stigma, discrimination and violence against female sex workers and men who have sex with men in Andhra Pradesh, India (PDF
Samuels,Fiona; Verma,Ravi K.; George,C.K.; van der Kwaak,Anke; Wegelin-Schuringa,Madeleen; Cummings,Sarah; van Dam,Henk; Valk,Minke
Gender, Society & Development book series, pp. 95-109
Publication date: 2006


Understanding the HIV/STI prevention needs of men who have sex with men in Kenya (PDF
Onyango-Ouma,Washington; Birungi,Harriet; Geibel,Scott
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2006


Understanding the HIV/STI risks and prevention needs of men who have sex with men in Nairobi, Kenya (PDF
Onyango-Ouma,Washington; Birungi,Harriet; Geibel,Scott
Horizons Final Report
Publication date: 2005


'It's raining stones': Stigma, violence and HIV vulnerability among men who have sex with men in Dakar, Senegal (abstract
Niang,Cheikh Ibrahima; Tapsoba,Placide; Weiss,Ellen; Diagne,Moustapha; Niang,Youssoupha; Moreau,Amadou; Gomis,Dominique; Wade,Abdoulaye Sidibe; Seck,Karim; Castle,Christopher
Culture, Health and Sexuality 5(6): 499-512
Publication date: 2003


Meeting the sexual health needs of men who have sex with men in Senegal (PDF
Niang,Cheikh Ibrahima; Diagne,Moustapha; Niang,Youssoupha; Moreau,Amadou; Gomis,Dominique; Diouf,Maye; Seck,Karim; Wade,Abdoulaye Sidibe; Tapsoba,Placide; Castle,Christopher
Horizons Final Report
Publication date: 2002


Meeting the sexual health needs of men who have sex with men in Senegal (PDF
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2002


New study examines lives of MSM in Senegal (HTML
Dadian,Margaret
Global AIDSLink 72: 15-15
Publication date: 2002


Satisfaire aux besoins de santé des hommes qui ont des rapports sexuels avec d'autres hommes au Sénégal (PDF
Niang,Cheikh Ibrahima; Diagne,Moustapha; Niang,Youssoupha; Moreau,Amadou; Gomis,Dominique; Diouf,Maye; Seck,Karim; Wade,Abdoulaye Sidibe; Tapsoba,Placide; Castle,Christopher
Horizons Final Report
Publication date: 2002


Satisfaire les besoins de santé des hommes qui ont des rapports sexuels avec d'Autres hommes au Sénégal (PDF
Horizons Resume de Recherche
Publication date: 2002