ArticlePloS one2023
Exploring access to HIV-related services and programmatic gaps for Men having Sex with Men (MSM) in rural India- a qualitative study.
Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed.
- Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for men who have sex with men and transgender women in a clinic and a community-based setting: results from the first demonstration project in India.BMJ global health · 2026Article
- Barriers to health and social inclusion among transgender and MSM populations in India: a mixed-methods multicentric study.BMJ global health · 2026Article
- The hidden/ hard to reach men who have sex with men (MSM)-Results from the qualitative study in India.PloS one · 2026Article
- Review
- Ensuring equitable access to quality HIV care for affected populations in complex sociocultural settings: Lessons from Nigeria.PloS one · 2025Article
- Insights into Health Program Implementation and Evaluation in Iran: A Brief Review of National Healthcare Programs in Iran.Iranian journal of public health · 2024Article
- Article
- Article
- "Barriers to Accessing Targeted Interventions among Key Populations in Jharkhand, India: A Mixed-Methods Study in Two Mining Towns".Indian journal of community medicine : official publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social MedicineArticle
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18 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundDespite the Link Worker Scheme to address the HIV risk and vulnerabilities in rural areas, reaching out to unreached men having sex with men (MSM) remains a challenge in rural India. This study explored issues around health care access and programmatic gaps among MSM in rural settings of India.
methodsWe conducted eight Focused Group Discussions (FGDs), 20 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and 20 In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) in four rural sites in Maharashtra, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh between November 2018 and September 2019. The data in the local language were audio-recorded, transcribed, and translated. Data were analyzed in NVivo version 11.0 software using the grounded theory approach.
resultsPrimary barriers to health care access were lack of knowledge, myths and misconceptions, not having faith in the quality of services, program invisibility in a rural setting, and anticipated stigma at government health facilities. Government-targeted intervention services did not seem to be optimally advertised in rural areas as MSM showed a lack of information about it. Those who knew reported not accessing the available government facilities due to lack of ambient services, fear of the stigma transforming into fear of breach of confidentiality. One MSM from Odisha expressed, "…they get fear to go to the hospital because they know that hospital will not maintain confidentiality because they are local people. If society will know about them, then family life will be disturbed" [OR-R-KI-04]. Participants expressed the desire for services similar to those provided by the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), frontline health workers for MSM.
conclusionProgramme invisibility emerges as the most critical issue for rural and young MSM. Adolescent and panthis emerged as Hidden MSM and they need focused attention from the programme. The need for village-level workers such as ASHA specifically for the MSM population emerged. MSM-friendly health clinics would help to improve healthcare access in rural MSMs under Sexual and Reproductive Health Care.
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