Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Terms of use and reuse: academic research for non-commercial purposes, see here for full terms. In settings where stigma and discrimination toward men who have sex with men MSM are high or illegal, like in Malaysia, innovative methods to anonymously reach them are urgently needed.
The near ubiquitous availability of mobile technology, including smartphones, has the potential to open new frontiers such as mHealth to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections STIs. Participants were recruited via advertisements on mobile apps frequently used by MSM.
In addition to demographic, smartphone access and utilization, and other information were assessed using logistic regression to determine factors associated with the use of a smartphone to search for online sexual health information. Nearly all These findings suggest high smartphone use by high-risk MSM to seek sexual health information and suggests that mHealth strategies may be an effective strategy to engage MSM in HIV prevention activities. Malaysia, a middle-income country with low 0.
This growing epidemic among MSM has been associated with condomless sex CS and concomitant use of drugs and alcohol Kanter et al. Lim et al. In Malaysia, homosexuality is illegal in both secular and Sharia law. Even when criminal sanctions are not enforced, MSM are highly stigmatized and often discriminated against. Traditional outreach at venues where MSM congregate has been challenging. For example, gay clubs are unviable option because of highly publicized police raids of such establishments with the press airing footage of MSM being forced to submit to urine drug testing or even pronouncements against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender LGBT persons by leading governmental authorities, including to smear leading public figures seeking election.
The unprecedented expansion of mobile technologies, especially in emerging economies, as well as their potential application to reach groups who are not accessible using venue-based strategies, has opened new frontiers, including mHealth strategies, to promote personal healthcare engagement, including optimized prevention and treatment Conserve et al.
