A survey was conducted by the Estonian Network of People Living with HIV (EHPV) among trans people and men who have sex with men (MSM). Internal homophobia, satisfaction, and participation in HIV control programs were evaluated by experts.
The study included 314 participants, with a mean age of 36 years, and 98% of them were cisgender males.
The study participants’ unmet needs are generally associated with the following: issues in their personal sexual lives; the cost and availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis medications; feelings of insecurity as a result of the various manifestations of stigma in the subgroup of russian-speaking and predominantly heterosexual respondents.
The authors of the study issued numerous recommendations to government organizations and HIV service providers. The primary ones are as follows:
- Increase the number of initiatives that educate MSM and trans people about HIV transmission, prevention, and treatment.
- Increase the number of opportunities for voluntary HIV testing, which includes self-testing.
- Enhance the index testing system.
- Train peer counselors who are capable of interacting with individuals at sex gatherings, including those where chemsex is utilized.
- Advocate for the increased availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis medications, which should include cost reduction and availability over-the-counter, as well as online counseling on their use.
More information regarding the survey’s findings is available in the report, which has been compiled in three languages: English, Estonian, and Russian.