While almost every MSM in the survey had heard of HIV/AIDS, fewer than three fourths could name three ways a person can protect themselves from HIV infection including using a condom every time, only having sex with one uninfected partner who is also faithful, and remaining abstinent from sex. An even smaller number of MSM rejected three commonly held misconceptions about HIV/AIDS, namely that HIV is transmitted by mosquitos, that it can be passed by sharing a meal with an infected person, and that healthy looking people cannot have the virus.
Figure IV-2.9: Knowledge of HIV/AIDS and prevention of transmission
* Three ways to avoid HIV transmission include using a condom every time, only having sex with one uninfected partner who is also faithful, remaining abstinent from sex.
** Three common misconceptions include that HIV can be transmitted by mosquitos and by sharing a meal with an infected person, and that a healthy looking person cannot have the virus
A total of 41.8% answered that they knew someone with HIV/AIDS, and almost 10% of all MSM reported that they had a friend or family member living with HIV or who had died of AIDS.
Figure IV-2.10: Know someone with HIV/AIDS
HIV Testing
A high proportion of respondents (71.2%) reported that it was possible to obtain a confidential HIV test. One quarter of MSM had already been tested for HIV, a majority of whom received a voluntary test and returned to learn their results.
Figure IV-2.11: Know where to get HIV test and ever had a test
Knowledge and History of STI symptoms
Half of MSM could name at least two STI symptoms that occur in men. One quarter of the population reported that they had an STI symptom in the past 12 months, the most common being urethral discharge (15.7%), and genital ulcer (15.3%), followed by anal ulcer (1.9%) and anal discharge (0.7%).
Table IV-2.5: Knowledge and history of symptoms
