Low STI Consultation attendance rates among EW and MSM in Preah Sihanouk Province

Poor STI consultation attendance rates among Entertainment Workers (EW) and Men who have sex with men (MSM) in Preah Sihanouk Province remains a key problem for prevention programmes.

Speaking at the “MARPs Community Partnership” workshop yesterday, H. E Meas Vuthy, Chairman of Provincial AIDS Committee said that only 45 - 60% of EW in Preah Sihanouk seek STI testing services and that this rate is even lower among MSM in region at only 20 - 30%.
Distance to services and transport costs were cited as barriers to accessing STI testing. In addition, many EW reported that they felt they did not need to attend STI testing services as they were healthy.
Attended by over 120 EW, MSM, youth, local authorities, entertainment establishment owners and representatives from the provincial and district AIDS Committees as well as NGOs and CBOs, the Workshop was held in order that concerns – with a particular focus on local authorities hindering prevention efforts - could be raised and addressed.
Read the full meeting report here.