Experiences and challenges in sexual health service access among men who have sex with men in Kenya.
Bourne, Adam;
Carman, Marina;
Kabuti, Rhoda;
Nutland, Will;
Fearon, Elizabeth;
Liku, Jennifer;
Tukai, Anthony;
Weatherburn, Peter;
Kimani, Joshua;
Smith, Adrian D;
(2021)
Experiences and challenges in sexual health service access among men who have sex with men in Kenya.
Global Public Health, 17 (8).
pp. 1626-1637.
ISSN 1744-1692
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2021.1987501
Permanent Identifier
Use this Digital Object Identifier when citing or linking to this resource.
Men who have sex with men (MSM) in Kenya bear a heavy burden of HIV/STIs and are a priority population in the national HIV/AIDS response, yet remain criminalised and stigmatised within society. HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) offers an opportunity to significantly impact the HIV epidemic, as does the concept of U = U, whereby those who are living with HIV and on treatment are uninfectious when their viral load has been suppressed so as to be undetectable. However, the value of such innovations will not be realised without sufficient understanding of, and respect for, the sexual health service provision needs of MSM. This paper describes findings from 30 in-depth interviews with MSM living in Nairobi that explored engagement with sexual health service providers, barriers to access and perceived opportunities to improve service design and delivery. Findings indicate concern relating to the professionalism of some staff working within public hospitals as well as feelings that many sexual health services were not considered safe spaces for the discussion of MSM-specific sexual behaviour. Diverse views were expressed relating to comfort in public, community and private sexual health services as well as how these are and should be organised.
Description: This is an author accepted manuscript version of an article accepted for publication, and following peer review. Please be aware that minor differences may exist between this version and the final version if you wish to cite from it.
Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0