Twenty five years after the first identification of AIDS in Nigeria, there have been few studies on HIV transmission and male-male anal sex. This gap in knowledge has left men and women vulnerable to HIV transmission. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are "one of the high-risk groups vulnerable" to HIV transmission and the cultural and religious factors that lead to the denial of male-to-male sex increases their vulnerability. The criminalization and stigma associated with homosexuality inhibit most men from identifying themselves as gay or bisexual, even though they have sex with other men. Some men who have sex with men and with women don’t identify themselves as gay or bisexual. This results to high prevalence in STIs/HIV/AIDS and hindered access to health care services and treatment options. The main focus has always been on preventing the spread of the HIV virus through heterosexual relationships and MSM are usually forgotten when it comes to AIDS awareness campaigns, educational programme and impact mitigation. They therefore lack information on the risks involved in unprotected sex and how to protect themselves from HIV infection. Thus, reaching out to these ‘hidden community’ and educating them about HIV/AIDS and safer sex is crucial in the fight of AIDS.
Recent studies from Africa and other developing countries shown surging rates of HIV infection among MSM where denial of male-male sex continue to fuel the HIV epidemic. Criminalization, Cultural and religious factors have continuously led an increasing vulnerability of HIV to MSM. Health authorities and institutions had always believed that HIV transmission was mainly through heterosexual transmission. The fact that homosexuality is widely ignored in
In an effort to stem the reduction of HIV among MSM, a non profit, non governmental organization Center for the Right to Health based in Nigeria carried out a baseline research to assess the burden of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja. The cornerstone of the project is to provide MSM with HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT), peer education, syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), Condom and other prevention (C&OP) messages. The research showed a high prevalence (38%)[1] of HIV/AIDS among MSM. This prevalence is higher than the national average (3.6%) of Nigeria[2] and prevalence of HIV/AIDS among MSM in Lagos state (25%)[3]. There has also been low access to health care services due to fear of stigmatization as result of criminalization of homosexuality in Nigeria. Gradually this yields resistant STIs that further predispose them to higher risk of HIV/AIDS as result of wounds. Affordability and accessibility are factors that play key roles in usage of condom and lubricants. Innovativeness has come to play to substitute expensive lubricants with water, soap, vegetable oil and Vaseline. This comes in handy when lubricants are not accessible and even when accessible not affordable.
Impact mitigation in HIV programming goes beyond heterosexual transmission. Evidence based research provided by the Center for the Right to Health has shown a dire need to advocate for increased access to health care interventions and HIV/STI programming and providing access to accurate information on safer sex and preventing HIV/AIDS. Providing HIV/AIDS education and distribution of condoms/lubricants alone may not be sufficient unless an enabling environment is created for integrated care and support.
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