Challenges and impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on men that have sex with men in accessing healthcare services in Nigeria
Background: Men with sex with men (MSM) may face obstacles in accessing culturally competent and quality healthcare services since current medical practice does not often promote discussing sexual habits. The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has further affected this group. This study a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2023-01-01
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| Series: | MGM Journal of Medical Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mgmjms.com/article.asp?issn=2347-7946;year=2023;volume=10;issue=1;spage=94;epage=101;aulast=Amoo |
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| author | Olubunmi Elizabeth Amoo Olaiya Paul Abiodun Felix Olaniyi Sanni Jay Osi Samuels Prosper I Okonkwo |
| author_facet | Olubunmi Elizabeth Amoo Olaiya Paul Abiodun Felix Olaniyi Sanni Jay Osi Samuels Prosper I Okonkwo |
| author_sort | Olubunmi Elizabeth Amoo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Men with sex with men (MSM) may face obstacles in accessing culturally competent and quality healthcare services since current medical practice does not often promote discussing sexual habits. The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has further affected this group. This study assessed the impacts of COVID-19 and the general challenges of MSM in Benue State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This study was a quantitative cross-sectional survey conducted across three geopolitical zones of Benue State using a multistage cluster sampling method to collect data from MSM. The data collected were analyzed using IBM-Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM-SPSS) version 25.0 for Windows IBM Corp., Armonk, New York. Result: More than half (59.2%) of respondents said they were not denied healthcare services, and 78.4% were not afraid to seek them. Most (88%) were comfortable seeking medical help, and 61.6% did not experience stigmatization from healthcare providers. Many (68.0%) were not exposed to violence after sharing their status with healthcare providers. About half (50.4%) said COVID-19 did not affect their general quality of life. Over half (51.2%) said there was a decline in access to resources like food and money during the pandemic, 49.6% experienced difficulties accessing HIV testing, and 52.0% could not access PrEP. More than half (53.6%) reported challenges getting viral load or other laboratory tests, but 57.5% had no trouble getting HIV medication prescriptions. Conclusion: The Federal Government, and the Ministry of Health, Nigeria, should support intervention programs, peer educators, and outreach workers providing services to MSM. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:10:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a19bfd2bab634df998337ea9471a592e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2347-7946 2347-7962 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:10:11Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | MGM Journal of Medical Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-a19bfd2bab634df998337ea9471a592e2023-07-23T16:09:31ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsMGM Journal of Medical Sciences2347-79462347-79622023-01-011019410110.4103/mgmj.mgmj_95_22Challenges and impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on men that have sex with men in accessing healthcare services in NigeriaOlubunmi Elizabeth AmooOlaiya Paul AbiodunFelix Olaniyi SanniJay Osi SamuelsProsper I OkonkwoBackground: Men with sex with men (MSM) may face obstacles in accessing culturally competent and quality healthcare services since current medical practice does not often promote discussing sexual habits. The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has further affected this group. This study assessed the impacts of COVID-19 and the general challenges of MSM in Benue State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This study was a quantitative cross-sectional survey conducted across three geopolitical zones of Benue State using a multistage cluster sampling method to collect data from MSM. The data collected were analyzed using IBM-Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM-SPSS) version 25.0 for Windows IBM Corp., Armonk, New York. Result: More than half (59.2%) of respondents said they were not denied healthcare services, and 78.4% were not afraid to seek them. Most (88%) were comfortable seeking medical help, and 61.6% did not experience stigmatization from healthcare providers. Many (68.0%) were not exposed to violence after sharing their status with healthcare providers. About half (50.4%) said COVID-19 did not affect their general quality of life. Over half (51.2%) said there was a decline in access to resources like food and money during the pandemic, 49.6% experienced difficulties accessing HIV testing, and 52.0% could not access PrEP. More than half (53.6%) reported challenges getting viral load or other laboratory tests, but 57.5% had no trouble getting HIV medication prescriptions. Conclusion: The Federal Government, and the Ministry of Health, Nigeria, should support intervention programs, peer educators, and outreach workers providing services to MSM.http://www.mgmjms.com/article.asp?issn=2347-7946;year=2023;volume=10;issue=1;spage=94;epage=101;aulast=Amooaccesscovid-19healthcare servicesmen who have sex with men (msm)sexual |
| spellingShingle | Olubunmi Elizabeth Amoo Olaiya Paul Abiodun Felix Olaniyi Sanni Jay Osi Samuels Prosper I Okonkwo Challenges and impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on men that have sex with men in accessing healthcare services in Nigeria MGM Journal of Medical Sciences access covid-19 healthcare services men who have sex with men (msm) sexual |
| title | Challenges and impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on men that have sex with men in accessing healthcare services in Nigeria |
| title_full | Challenges and impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on men that have sex with men in accessing healthcare services in Nigeria |
| title_fullStr | Challenges and impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on men that have sex with men in accessing healthcare services in Nigeria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenges and impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on men that have sex with men in accessing healthcare services in Nigeria |
| title_short | Challenges and impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on men that have sex with men in accessing healthcare services in Nigeria |
| title_sort | challenges and impacts of covid 19 pandemic on men that have sex with men in accessing healthcare services in nigeria |
| topic | access covid-19 healthcare services men who have sex with men (msm) sexual |
| url | http://www.mgmjms.com/article.asp?issn=2347-7946;year=2023;volume=10;issue=1;spage=94;epage=101;aulast=Amoo |
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