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TRACK: SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES

TOPIC : The Effectiveness of peer Education amongst Men that have sex with Men (MSM) in Nigeria AUTHORS : Ezomoh Richard Gbenga ORGANIZATION: The Initiative for Equal Rights COUNTRY : Nigeria Email Add : rezomoh@initiative4equality.org. TRACK: SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES. Issues :.

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TRACK: SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES

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  1. TOPIC: The Effectiveness of peer Education amongst Men that have sex with Men (MSM) in Nigeria AUTHORS: Ezomoh Richard Gbenga ORGANIZATION: The Initiative for Equal Rights COUNTRY: Nigeria Email Add: rezomoh@initiative4equality.org TRACK: SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES

  2. Issues: • Nigeria has made great strides in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic as observed in decreasing national prevalence rates from 4.4% to 3.8%. However, there exists a high prevalence of 13.5% among Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) and a much higher prevalence of 25% in Lagos state Nigeria • The prevalence of HIV/AIDS and STI among MSM is on the increase due to risky sexual behaviors and lack/poor knowledge on HIV prevention measures. Same-sex sexual practice is criminalized and stigmatized in Nigeria; this has resulted in reduced access to health information and health care for MSM.

  3. Description: • As part of strategies to reach MSM with HIV prevention services, The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs) provides MSM with comprehensive messages on Abstinence and Be faithful, Condoms and other prevention using the New Comprehensive Minimum Prevention Package Intervention approved by USAID. • TIERs is reaching MSM and their partners with high quality and appropriate prevention messages using a network of trained and supported Outreach Coordinators and Peer Educators in 20 different Local governments in Lagos state, Nigeria

  4. Description continues: • Peers were reached with innovative activities to explore interactive and educative ways to peer educate to MSM. They are educated on HIV/AIDS prevention, STI Syndromic management, palliative care services for MSMLWHA, and other issues affecting the MSM community. Prevention materials (condoms and lubricants) and IEC materials are being distributed to enhance behavioral change amongst MSM during the course of peer education. • We anticipate that with the provision of HIV prevention, care and support services, TIERs will contribute to the reduction of the national prevalence of HIV/AIDS amongst MSM by strengthening selected MSM to be Peer educators to reach MSM at the grassroots with key prevention messages and to increase access to friendly health care services.

  5. Lessons learnt: • Peer education is relevant because people’s attitudes are highly influenced by their perception of what their peers do and think. Also, people are motivated by the expectations of respected peer educators. • Effective peer education can enhance behavioral change amongst MSM and Behavior change is the prime target of Prevention interventions

  6. Next step: • TIER will be re-strategizing to expand its scope to other parts of Nigeria (with support from available funding and resources), to reach MSM at the grassroots with key, high-quality HIV prevention and support services. • There is need to develop Peer education manual specifically for MSM that will address the sexual health needs of MSM. • Consistent/Intensive trainings on peer education should be conducted for Peer educators to be able to disseminate adequate and appropriate prevention messages.

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