Marseille 2007
Marseille 2007
Abstract book
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Abstract #277  -  The Dynamics and Contexts of Male-to-Male Sex in Indonesia and Thailand
Session:
  12.2: Ageing and Changeing (Parallel) on Monday @ 11.00-12.30 in PR Chaired by Gerald Gorn, Lorraine Sherr
Authors:
  Presenting Author:   Dr Stephen McNally - La Trobe University, Australia
 
  Additional Authors:  Dr  Jeffrey  Grierson, Mr Murray  Couch, Prof Marian Pitts,  
Aim:
The concept of MSM as a behavioural category masks the diversity and complexity of male-to-male sex. The growing research on MSM shows that the possibilities of same-sex-seeking cultures and patterns of sex between men are endless. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the social and cultural dynamics and contexts of male-to-male sex in Indonesia and Thailand. This paper presents an analysis of sexual identity, sexual behaviour and characteristics of the social and sexual networks in which these men move.
 
Method / Issue:
During 2006 a total of 105 one-on-one semi structured interviews were conducted with Indonesian and Thai men who engage in male-to-male sex. These in-depth interviews took place across five sites: Surabaya, Batam Island, Manado, Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Using a qualitative methodology allowed for the exploration of the complexities and particularities of the contexts in which male-to-male sex is experienced. This paper draws on results from all five sites.
 
Results / Comments:
Findings show that people move through identities over lifetimes and across contexts. Many of these men did not identify consistently and unproblematically with sexual identities, and even less identified with the category of MSM. It was found that sexual identity, opportunity and practice may exist within social networks as constitutive characteristics or as structural determinants. These play a part in determining the constitution of the network, the nature of the relationships within the network, and the structure of the networks. Sexual behaviour is also highly contextualised. For example; condom use is not driven solely or consistently by concerns of HIV. Sexual practice and understandings and responses to HIV sit alongside multiple aspects of mens lives including work, leisure, relationships, family, religion, pleasure and friendship.
 
Discussion:
These findings have significant implications for health promotion practice for HIV prevention with men who engage in male-to-male sex not only for the fives sites studied, but also for the two countries and potentially other settings in the Asia-Pacific region. These mens experiences show that there is a need to shift from an older model of public health that operates from a surveillance and control to adopt new strategies that focus on settings through which people move and the dynamic networks which these men occupy. While peer-based intervention remains central to the public health response, there needs to be greater clarity and precision in the employment of the constructs of peers and peer networks. Peer education opportunities largely relate to settings and contexts in which male to male sexual practice occurs and not to categories of men.
 
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