1. DOES SEXUAL IDENTITY MATTER IN ACCESSING SERVICES
DOES SEXUAL IDENTITY MATTER IN ACCESSING SERVICES? RISK PROFILE AND HEALTH-SEEKING BEHAVIORS OF DIFFERENT SEXUAL IDENTITY TYPES OF YOUNG msm IN MYANMAR
W Tun, PP Aung, A Bajracharya, E Yam, C Ryan, SM Oo, ZW Thein, AK Paing, N Pasricha, L Willenberg, P Agius, TT Sein, S Htun, NZ Latt, S Luchters

2. Introduction
HIV prevalence among MSM in Myanmar ~7% (12x greater than general population)
MSM face barriers in accessing HIV and sexual health services
MSM are not homogeneous group
Study examined how the risk profiles and health seeking behaviors of young MSM differ by sexual identities (self-identified)
Methods
Cross-sectional behavioral survey
623 MSM, years old from six townships
Recruited through respondent-driven sampling

3. Three Main Types of Young MSM in Myanmar
Sexual identity
Definition
Proportion in 6 study sites (N = 623) %
Apwint
Gay-identified MSM 29
Apone
Non-gay identified MSM; Receptive partner 16
Tha-nge
Non-gay identified MSM; Insertive partner 54
About half identified as hidden

4. Results Non-gay identified MSM
Compared to non-gay identified MSM, gay-identified MSM were significantly more likely to report:
Behavioral risk (younger sexual debut with male partner, experienced violence at first male-male sex, had paying partners, more sex partners)
Poor health
Self-reported HIV positivity (16% versus 1-7%)
STI symptoms (37% versus < 25%)
Better access to services (more likely to have HIV tested or had contact with peer educator or accessed MSM-friendly drop-in center)
Non-gay identified MSM
Not without risk (24% with STI symptoms)
Less likely to reveal their MSM status to providers
Less likely to have tested at INGOs compared to other MSM

5. Conclusion
Tailored strategies and counseling are needed to address the different risk profile and health-seeking behaviors of different sexual identities of young MSM.
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