Situation with HIV prevention among MSM in Latvia

Transcription

1 Situation with HIV prevention among MSM in Latvia Antons Mozalevskis, M.D. Association of LGBT and their Friends Mozaika The second meeting of the NDPHS Expert Group on HIV/AIDS and Associated Infections April 2011, Riga, Latvia

2 Situation with MSM in Latvia I SVA (Agency for Public Health) study in MSM were interviewed and tested for HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis HIV prevalence 4% only 25% of the respondents were practicing low risk behaviour (having only one sexual partner during last 12 months); in the same time only 26,92% of the respondents used condoms always EMIS Results (2010): 734 respondents HIV prevalence 3,9% (self-reported) 50,5% never tested for HIV! (which on European level is comparable only to Bosnia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia)

3 Situation with MSM in Latvia II According to official statistics by there were 4941 cases of HIV infection in the country 223 (4,51%) indicated themselves as MSM 757 (13,32%) did not indicate possible route of HIV infection at all Taking into consideration rather high level of closetedness among GLBT society according to EMIS only 28,50% of MSM in Latvia could be open about their homosexuality, it is possible to concede that some part or even the majority of those who didn t indicate the route of infection could belong to MSM community.

4 Situation with MSM in Latvia III Regardless of these facts there are no continuous HIV prevention activities aimed at MSM community (except some short time campaigns, as already mentioned during the SVA project in 2008, the outreach work in the MSM clubs had been done by Mozaika s activists).

5 PLWHA Support Group (AGIHAS) was started as a non-governmental organization in 1993 remains the only community based HIV+ organization in Latvia, which unites HIV+ MSM and their supporters, though not stating it openly because of the wide-spread stigmatization of MSM, more over HIV+ MSM Projects Riga and Riga facilitated inclusion of HIVpositive MSM into the inner activities of the community and also some public activities aimed to inform society about HIV/AIDS issues From there have been 4 projects carried out in the prisons, aimed not only at HIV issues but also at the problems of MSM in prisons

6 Association of GLBT and their Friends Mozaika Mozaika was founded in March 2006 and since then has grown considerably (i.e. the number of active members has grown from 20 to more than 140 by today) Full member of ILGA-Europe since 2007 Mozaika s activities are aimed both at fighting discrimination, advocacy, social integration of GLBT people and also noticeably at community building by defferent activities: Organising annual Friendship Days (Baltic Pride); Organising annual GLBT film festival; Running a GLBT Sports club GLBT Youth support group Recently opening first GLBT Library A co-operation partner in both SVA project and EMIS

7 The Board of MOZAIKA March 2011

8 Joint project by AGIHAS and MOZAIKA Objectives: 1. To rise the level of awareness about HIV infection, increasing the number of MSM, who always use condoms and regularly get tested for HIV; 2. To increase the level of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ARVT) among HIV+ MSM, raising the responsibility for their health and the health of their partners, reducing self-stigmatization, acquiring new skills and working for the benefit of the society.

9 Joint project by AGIHAS and MOZAIKA Activities: Training workshop for volunteers and professional outreach workers to start the outreach work; Publishing a pocket-sized booklet with information on HIV and health issues for distribution; Training workshop for HIV+MSM activists on adherence to treatment and acquiring peerto-peer consultation skills with following weekly peer-to-peer consultations

10 Thank you for your attention!