Male sexuality in Vietnam: the case of male-to-male sex.
BACKGROUND
To implement effective behaviour change interventions for men who have sex with men, qualitative information was collected about the contexts and meanings of sex and relationships between men in Ho Chi Minh City.


METHODS
Individual interviews and focus groups were conducted with 74 men aged 18 years or older who had had sex with another man in the previous 12 months.


RESULTS
Findings reveal that sex between men exists and is associated with two common descriptors in Vietnam: bong lo for those who are feminised in public and bong kin for those who are not, and are often married. In sexual relationships, for both groups of men, there is a trade off between sexual pleasure and risk. Condoms may not be used, particularly when having sex with a partner who was considered to be good looking or perceived as 'clean'.


CONCLUSIONS
The study highlights the need for HIV prevention programs which address issues of sexual meaning in male-to-male sexual relationships.
Vu
Bao Ngoc
BN
Family Health International, Vietnam Office, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam. bao@fhi.org.vn
Girault
Philippe
P
Do
Binh Van
BV
Colby
Donn
D
Tran
Lien Thi Bich
LT
D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017144:Focus Groups; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000523:psychology; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000145:classification* / Q000523:psychology; D012931:Social Environment; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology