Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42153918›Full record

ReviewJournal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care

Syndemic Effects of Covid-19 Lockdown on Chemsex and HIV Among MSM in Malaysia: A Narrative Review.

Benjamin Km Thain

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

1 author.

Benjamin Km ThainLEV8 Malaysia, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.ORCID 0000-0003-1421-5590

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChemsex, sexual activity under the influence of psychoactive substances, remains a major public health concern for men who have sex with men (MSM) globally. In Malaysia's conservative context, the convergence of chemsex and HIV transmission presents complex challenges. This narrative review examines how the Covid-19 pandemic and extended lockdown disrupted HIV services and intensified psychosocial stressors, amplifying chemsex, HIV, and mental health issues among Malaysian MSM.

methodsA systematic search of international databases (2018-2025) identified relevant studies through keyword screening of articles, abstracts, and full texts. KEY

findingsThe Covid-19 lockdown exacerbated psychosocial stressors such as isolation and minority stress, altered chemsex patterns, and increased drug use. Disruption of HIV testing and treatment delayed diagnoses and potentially heightened transmission, while PrEP uptake remained low (18.3%) despite awareness.

conclusionThe pandemic intensified syndemic interactions concerning chemsex, HIV, and mental health. Urgent, integrated, person-centered intervention is needed to address this multifaceted crisis.

Indexed as

ChemsexCOVID-19HIV InfectionsHomosexuality, MaleSubstance-Related DisordersHumansMalaysiaMaleSARS-CoV-22019-2024chemsexchemsex root causesHIVHIV testinglate HIV diagnosisMalaysiamental healthMSMsubstance use disorder

Identifiers

PMID42153918
PMCPMC13187387

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.