Access to HIV Services at Non-Governmental and Community-Based Organizations among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) in Cameroon: An Integrated Biological and Behavioral Surveillance Analysis

<div><p>Background</p><p>Men who have sex with men (MSM) are more likely to be living with HIV than other adult men in low- and middle-income countries. MSM experience barriers to accessing HIV services including a lack of available specialized care, and community-level stigma and discrimination. This study aims to examine the uptake of HIV services at non-governmental and community-based organizations (NGOs/CBOs) to identify ways to improve coverage of HIV prevention and treatment among MSM.</p><p>Methods</p><p>An Integrated Biological and Behavioral Surveillance (IBBS) survey was conducted in Yaoundé and Douala, Cameroon in 2011 using the respondent driven sampling (RDS) method to recruit and interview 239 MSM in Yaoundé and 272 MSM in Douala.</p><p>Results</p><p>MSM in Yaoundé were statistically significantly more likely to have accessed NGO/CBO services or been reached by an outreach worker in the past 12 months if they had any STI symptoms (aOR 2.17 CI 1.02-4.59. p=0.04), or if they had a larger MSM social network (aOR 1.02 CI 1.01-1.04. p<0.01). MSM in Douala were more likely to have accessed NGO/CBO services or been reached by an outreach worker in the past 12 months if they were living with HIV (aOR 3.60 CI 1.35-9.60. p=0.01), or if they reported higher numbers of male sexual partners (aOR 1.17 CI 1.00-1.36. p=0.046). Compared to men in Douala, MSM in Yaoundé were significantly less likely to have accessed NGO/CBO services or been reached by an outreach worker in the past 12 months (aOR 0.22 CI 0 .14-0.34. p=<0.01).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>With appropriate funding and resources, community-based organizations that provide care specifically for MSM can improve access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care services. Additionally, using social networks to reach MSM can connect greater numbers of the population to effective HIV interventions, which will improve health outcomes and decrease onward transmission of HIV.</p></div

Bivariate and multivariate models of the correlates of access to NGO/CBO services and outreach among MSM in Douala (N = 272), 2011.

<p>Abbreviations: RDS, respondent driven sampling; OR, odds ratio; aOR, adjusted odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.</p><p>Adjusted odds ratio model includes all variables listed in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0122881#pone.0122881.t003" target="_blank">Table 3</a> except history of HIV testing.</p><p>*Overall Wald test p-value for categorical variables calculated using testparm.</p><p>Bivariate and multivariate models of the correlates of access to NGO/CBO services and outreach among MSM in Douala (N = 272), 2011.</p

Characteristics of MSM recruited from Douala (N = 272) and Yaoundé (N = 239), 2011.

<p>Data on factors associated with HIV infection and prior HIV testing are available in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0122881#pone.0122881.s001" target="_blank">S1</a> and <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0122881#pone.0122881.s002" target="_blank">S2</a> Files.</p><p>Characteristics of MSM recruited from Douala (N = 272) and Yaoundé (N = 239), 2011.</p

Bivariate and multivariate models of the correlates of access to NGO/CBO services and outreach among MSM in Yaoundé (N = 239), 2011.

<p>Abbreviations: RDS, respondent driven sampling; OR, odds ratio; aOR, adjusted odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.</p><p>Adjusted odds ratio model includes all variables listed in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0122881#pone.0122881.t002" target="_blank">Table 2</a> except history of HIV testing.</p><p>*Overall Wald test p-value for categorical variables calculated using testparm.</p><p>Bivariate and multivariate models of the correlates of access to NGO/CBO services and outreach among MSM in Yaoundé (N = 239), 2011.</p