ASIA

Countries in this Section

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, East Timor, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam

Some MSM Identities

Pros Saat, Short Hair, Hijra, Tongzhi

Sex between Males*

• Laos: 18% of young men surveyed in Vientiane ¹
• India: 10% of rural men surveyed ²
• Pakistan: 49% of truck drivers surveyed in Lahore ³

MSM and HIV*

• Hong Kong: 4.03% of MSM surveyed, 2006 ⁴
• India: 17% of MSM surveyed in Mumbai, 2006 ⁵
• Thailand: 28.3% of MSM surveyed in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket ⁶

Prevention Materials for MSM

• Thailand: Mplus+ animated outreach and prevention videos (Hidden MSM, Young MSM, Male Sex Workers, Transgender)
• China: Friend Exchange
  
  

This Month's Featured Organization

Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health

The Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM), an autonomous, regional coalition of civil society groups, government sector representatives, donors, technical experts and the United Nations system, plans to conduct targeted advocacy with stake holders, including governments and donors to improve the HIV policy framework, increase investment and evidenced-based research, scale up programs, as well as the promotion of individual rights of MSM and transgenders…

• APCOM's Website
  

Opportunities

• Request for Submissions: aids2031 Initiative: How will HIV and MSM issues evolve in the fast growing economies of China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam over the next 25 years? (pdf)
  

eForums and Email Groups

• msmprojects: MSM Project Workers: " Venue for discussion and information-sharing on MSM-related STI, HIV/AIDS programs and projects, Southeast Asian Region."
• hiv-aware: MSM for Safer Sex: " for all gay men who want to receive bits of news about safe MSM information and other iteresting gay news in the Philippines."
• Naz Foundation International E-Group: " to create a platform where all members can share their experiences and problems related to HIV and AIDS field in india and abroad and secure the full enjoyment of the human rights of all peoples and communities subject to discrimination or abuse on the basis of sexual orientation expression, gender identity and HIV status."

Links

• Japan: MSM Research Group announces new website featuring epidemiological and behavioural data obtained from research collaboration with gay NGOs in Japan (Japanese Homepage / English Interface)
• Sexual Health Information Center (India)
• Naz Foundation International
• GAYa NUSANTARA

 

* At this point very few national-level surveys have been done in on these topics; this data is taken from studies with limited sample sizes and may not accurately reflect national figures.
1. “Frits van Griensven, PhD, MPH. “Recognizing and confronting the epidemic of HIV among men who have sex with men in Southeast Asia”.  Powerpoint presentation, September 6, 2006.  Thailand MOPH – U.S. CDC Collaboration.
2. Treat Asia, “MSM and HIV/AIDS Risk in Asia: What Is Fueling the Epidemic among MSM and How Can It Be Stopped?” August, 2006.
3. Ibid.
4. Hong Kong Special Preventive Programme, Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health “PRiSM - HIV Prevalence and Risk behavioural Survey of Men who have sex with men in Hong Kong 2006” April, 2007.
5. Setia ManinderSingh, et al. “Men who have sex with men and transgenders in Mumbai, India: An emerging risk group for STIs and HIV” Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Vol. 72, No. 6, November-December, 2006, pp. 425-431.  Bioline.org, accessed July 7th, 2008.
6.Frits van Griensven “Surveillance of HIV prevalence among populations of men who have sex with men in Thailand, 2003-2005” Oral Abstract Presentation at the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto, August 13 – 18, 2006.  Thailand MOPH-U.S. CDC Collaboration, Nonthaburi, Thailand.