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Vietnam has a large and complex HIV epidemic. Initially driven by injection drug users and female sex workers, MSM were added to sentinel surveillance in Since that time, the prevalence rate among MSM has increased rapidly, from an initial estimate of 3. Due to high levels of perceived and enacted stigma surrounding HIV, sex work and homosexual sex, MSM in Vietnam are poorly represented in health services [].
Although HIV knowledge among MSM in Vietnam has improved in recent years, following concentrated efforts to target MSM in prevention programming, serious gaps remain in knowledge about HIV transmission, including the role of routine testing and early detection in improved clinical outcomes []. Motivational Interviewing was used to encourage active participation in the educational process [24]. The study design has been described elsewhere [21].
Eligibility was restricted to young men, ages who reported transactional sex with another man at least once in the past 90 days and men who met these criteria were invited to complete a more detailed behavioral survey. Because clinic capacity was limited, randomly selected survey participants were invited to participate in the SHP intervention at a nearby health clinic.
The SHP intervention included seven modules delivered in a single session, lasting approximately one hour, by a trained Health Educator. An appointment to receive test results was scheduled approximately one week later. Treatment was provided onsite for all STIs and those who tested HIV-positive were referred to local HIV treatment centers where free antiretroviral therapy is available. All survey data were collected by trained research interviewers.
