Community engagement among men who have sex with men living with HIV/AIDS in Taiwan

ABSTRACT

Community engagement was developed as a global principle in the provision of HIV/AIDS services, yet evidence-based research of implementation of the principle is lacking in Taiwan. This short report aims to understand factors associated with engagement in two types of activities with varying levels of visibility: HIV-related community events and HIV-related community action, in Taiwanese men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV. A cross-sectional survey was distributed to a purposive sample of participants recruited from AIDS service organizations (ASOs). Among participants (n = 178), 63.6% were involved in HIV-related community events, while less than half (47.7%) were involved in HIV-related community action. In multivariable analysis, age, involvement in ASOs, and AIDS knowledge were positively associated with engagement in community events, and living in the north of Taiwan, years of infection, and self-stigma were negatively associated with this type of engagement. Few factors, with the exception of involvement in ASOs, were positively associated with engagement in HIV-related community action. To this end, ASOs appear to play a strong role in improving and organizing both types of community engagement in Taiwan. Future studies should evaluate tailored programs delivered through ASOs for strengthening community connectedness among younger, stigmatized, and longer diagnosed MSM living with HIV.

KEYWORDS:

• People living with HIV/AIDS
• men who have sex with men
• community engagement
• Taiwan

Notes on contributors

Deng-Min Chuang is a doctoral student in the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. His research interest focuses on HIV prevention among men who have sex with men and community engagement among racialized immigrants, refugees, and non-status people living with HIV/AIDS.

Ashley Lacombe-Duncan is a doctoral student in the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. Her major research interests include health equity, with a particular focus on healthcare access for women who experience intersecting intersecting HIV-related stigma, sexism, racism, classism, and transphobia.