Barriers preventing access by men who have sex with men to HIV-related health services in Southeast Asia: A Scoping Review

The objective of this scoping review was to identify and describe barriers experienced by men who have sex with men (MSM) when accessing HIV-related health care in Southeast Asia. A systematic search identified thirteen papers, which were full text reviewed and data extracted. An intersection of stigma and discrimination, fear and shame, cultural norms and societal expectations coalesce to influence the ability, either physically through lack of service provision or emotionally through personal restraint, of MSM to access HIV-related health services. Many of the factors continuing to drive the ongoing HIV epidemic across the Southeast Asia region have humanitarian origin – access to safe and non-discriminatory healthcare, education on sexual health, and not being persecuted for having a health condition. These must be addressed with an interdisciplinary response at local, government and regional level.