title: The dire sexual health crisis among MSM in the Philippines: an exploding HIV epidemic in the absence of essential health services.
abstract: The rate of HIV is exploding in the men who have sex with men (MSM) population in the Philippines. There is a paucity of information with respect to sexual behaviour, condom use, psychological health, and the prevalence of other STIs in the MSM subpopulation. At present there are no existing private or public clinical services in the country that focus on health services of MSM. We discuss the current epidemic situation and the steps needed to further define the rapidly evolving epidemic among MSM.
authors.affiliation: Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Australia. Electronic address: a.ross@griffith.edu.au.
authors.forename: Allen G P
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: National HIV/STI Prevention Program, Department of Health, The Philippines.
authors.forename: Rossana A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ditangco
authors.affiliation: National HIV/STI Prevention Program, Department of Health, The Philippines.
authors.forename: Jose G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Belimac
authors.affiliation: National HIV/STI Prevention Program, Department of Health, The Philippines.
authors.forename: Remigio M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Olveda
authors.affiliation: National HIV/STI Prevention Program, Department of Health, The Philippines.
authors.forename: Edelwisa S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Mercado
authors.affiliation: Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Australia.
authors.forename: Thao N P
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Crowe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058872:Epidemics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006296:Health Services; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010679:Philippines / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D060728:Reproductive Health
keywords: Epidemic; HIV; Health Services; MSM; Philippines