Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author s or with their consent. Many in Botswana still hold discriminatory views against people who engage in same-sex practices.
While it is well documented that stigma and discrimination undermine efforts to prevent HIV, the literature about the perception and experiences of discrimination against MSM in accessing HIV services in Botswana is scant. In this study, we sought to explore the perception and experiences of discrimination against MSM to improve access to HIV services and reduce discrimination against this marginalised population.
We conducted semi-structured interviews with participants. All data were audio-recorded, transcribed, translated into English and analysed using thematic analysis. The findings of this study show that MSM experience discrimination at the policy, healthcare system and community levels, which undermines their ability to seek HIV services. They reported a scarcity of trained personnel, poor access to HIV information, condoms, lack of treatment services targeted at MSM and negative attitudes directed towards MSM by service providers and other users.
The participants also reported that they are excluded from community interventions and experience negative attitudes from community and family members. Also, there is a need to further explore discrimination against MSM by service providers within the healthcare settings and ways to improve their understanding of male same-sex practices. Stigma and discrimination towards men who have sex with men MSM undermine interventions designed to reduce HIV infections and engage people in HIV treatment, care, and support programmes [ 1 ].
Goffman defines stigma as an attribute that is discrediting, while discrimination is the unjust, prejudiced distinction between people based on groups, classes or categories to which they belong [ 2 ].
