Trends of HIV and Syphilis infection among MSM in Vietnam through HIV sentinel surveillance plus behaviors, during 2015 - 2020

Abstract

We used sentinel surveillance data to determine trends in HIV and syphilis among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Vietnam between 2015 and 2020. Data were collected annually by a two - stage cluster sampling method. Results showed that the prevalence of HIV and syphilis was likely to increase, from 5.1% and 1.6% in 2015 to 13.4% and 14.2% in 2020, respectively. The percentage of regular use of a condom when having sex was as low as 43.6% in 2020. Many MSM sold sex, which peaked at 22.6% in 2016. The percentage of MSM who reported having group sex and using drugs in 2020 was 13.6% and 11.6%, respectively. Nearly 40% of them had never received free condoms and only 55% got tested for HIV in the past 12 months. As high as 96.9% of MSM who knew their HIV positivity got access to antiretroviral therapy (ART). More than 98.3% of MSM being on ART had suppressed viral load levels. HIV and syphilis infection proportions tend to increase in the period 2015 - 2020, with high rates of HIV - risk behaviors such as group/unsafe sex, drug use, and commercial sex. Preventive intervention programs need to be strengthened to control the spread of HIV/STIs among MSM.