Urbanisation and sexual health: understanding bisexually active men in Hanoi, Vietnam

Abstract

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) in Vietnam are receiving increased attention in recognition of their high-risk behaviours and potential for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and transmission. Due to societal pressures, many MSM in Vietnam are also bisexually active, which ultimately increases the transmission risks beyond the MSM population. Evidence is emerging that indicates a greater proportion of women in Asia with low-risk sexual activities are contracting HIV from their male partners who have become HIV infected through male–male sex. Methodology: Fourteen focus group discussions exploring sexual and social networks were conducted in Hanoi between July 2010 and September 2010. A total of 96 individuals participated in these sessions. Findings: A risk environment approach was used to analyse the focus group themes of social stigma and marriage, sex with other men in closed settings and transactional sex in Hanoi, an increasingly urbanising and westernising city. Implications: Despite limited evidence globally that bisexual men act as a bridge for sexually transmitted diseases, there is particular concern in Vietnam about this potential risk. HIV rates amongst MSM are rapidly rising and there are reports of women contracting HIV from their male partners who are bisexually active.

Keywords:

• HIV/AIDS
• gay
• lesbian
• bisexual and transgender
• translational research
• Hanoi
• focus group discussion

Acknowledgement

The authors acknowledge the contribution to this work of the Victorian Operational Infrastructure Support Program (Department of Health, Victoria, Australia) to the Burnet Institute.

Funding

This research was conducted with funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through an Australian Development Research Award (project number 49899). P. H. is supported by a Curtin University Research Fellowship. The National Drug Research Institute at Curtin University is supported by funding from the Australian Government under the Substance Misuse Prevention and Service Improvement Grants Fund. M. H. is supported by a Senior Research Fellowship from the National Health and Medical Research Council.

Notes

1. Countries of the Greater Mekong Sub-Region are Cambodia, China (Guangxi and Yunnan Provinces only), Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.