Homophobic stigma, depression, self-efficacy & UAI for peri-urban townships MSM

Until recently, African MSM have been under-researched and under-resourced, and this has contributed to their stigmatisation.

Fortunately this deficiency has been recognised locally and a number of innovative programmes have been developed to address this.

The Top2btm symposium on prevention, treatment and care of MSM sought to bring together these programmes to share experiences.

Various studies have proven the value of early initiation of antiretroviral treatment (ART) for both prevention and treatment.

This article illustrates the need for the immediate implementation of early ART among high risk populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM) where current safe sex interventions have proved limited or at worst ineffective.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk for HIV acquisition and transmission owing to the high risks associated with unprotected anal sex and barriers to accessing appropriate health services.