The condom use and preference survey (CUPS 2018): Determining the patterns of condom use and preferences among MSM and transgender women in the Philippines

7^th International Conference on HIV/AIDS, STDs and STIs

March 18-19, 2019 | New York, USA

Loyd Brendan P. Norella

Philippines Global Fund HIV-AIDS Grant, Philippines

Keynote: J AIDS CLIN RES

Abstract :

The Philippines is one of the countries in Asia that still has a significantly increasing HIV-AIDS prevalence. Data from the Department of Healthâ??s Epidemiology Bureau and the National HIV-AIDS Registry suggests that there are 32 new HIV cases per day in 2018, with a significant percentage of the cases coming from MSM and TG communities belonging to the 15 to 24 age group. The condom use and preference survey (CUPS 2018) was conducted to establish the patterns of condom use and preferences among MSM and transgender women as an evidence-base to guide HIV-AIDS program implementation especially targeting key affected populations in the Philippines. An online and paper-based survey of 3,600 participants was conducted in 9 geographic regions of the country, representing 38 sites. Results show that in terms of risk behaviors, the majority of the respondents (80%) had their sexual debut before the age of 19. Most of the respondents (60%) had their 1st condom use between the age of 17-21 years of age. There is a two to three-year lag in the use of condom from the respondentâ??s sexual debut. A major source of the respondentsâ?? first condom was through the different commercial establishments (66%) which sell condoms, followed by peers/friends (24%). Despite being free and available in the different medical facilities and clinics only 7% chose to access this. The major source of the respondentsâ?? knowledge of the condom was through different social media and peers which accounts for 57% of the responses, followed by 22% from commercial establishments and direct advertising. Only 2% of knowledge on condoms and its use was from their family and 19% from health facilities. Moreover, 67% prefer to use the branded condoms that are commercially available through retail stores followed by Government-provided (30%) free and non-branded condoms. The most common reasons for preferring a brand or type of condom over another are their perception of reliability, affordability, and trust in the brand. Only 21% used the condom because it is both free and affordable. 67% of the respondents consistently use a condom brand or type due to its thin quality followed by lubrication (21%). Only 9% use consistently a certain type of condom for its durability and 3% for its scent. In terms of use of lubricants with the condom, most of the respondents use the Commercial brand (53%) sold in stores followed by government-issued lubricants (45%). Only a small portion (1%) never used a lubricant, saliva, or those provided by friends. This information provides useful guidance in determining the type of condoms to be purchased through government funds, as well as providing a basis for designing interventions to promote consistent condom use, especially among the young Filipino MSM and transgender persons.

Biography :

Loyd Brendan P. Norella completed his Doctor of Medicine from the University of the Philippines, Philippine General Hospital at the age of 24 years old. He also has a Master in Public Health Methodology from the Universite Libre Bruxelles, Belgium. He did his postdoctoral research at the College of Public Health of the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand and attended training at the TH Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University in Boston. He has more than 15 years of experience as a medical doctor, venereologist, health social science researcher and development program specialist. Currently, he is the Chief of Party of the Global Fund HIV-AIDS Grant in the Philippines after serving as the Program Director of the ISEAN-Hivos Global Fund Multi- Country HIV-AIDS Grant in South East Asia.

E-mail: loyd.norella@savethechilden.org