Publications

This document is an in-depth analysis of the data on the MSM population generated by the 2009 Integrated HIV Behavioral and Serologic Surveillance System (IHBSS). IHBSS is a biennial study of the Department of Health to collect, analyze, and interpret data on HIV and AIDS in 20 selected sites across the country. Blood samples were taken from the respondents, and the serologic result for each of them was then matched with the behavioral survey they have completed using an identification number assigned to them.

The United Nations (UN) will support national priorities by offering assistance in developing capacities required to achieve the goals and commitments embodied in the PDP and in the various international covenants the GPH is party to. The UN will work in close collaboration with development/donor partners and stakeholders, making full use of its comparative advantages as advocate for the poor and vulnerable, as honest broker, as repository of global best practices and as enabler. UN cooperation will have equity, localisation, institution-building and governance as its strategic emphases and will be anchored on the principles of human rights, gender equality, environmental sustainability, culture and development. Capacity development will be the central thrust and main benefit of UN cooperation.

This report provides national biological and behavioural information of key populations at risk that was gathered in Round 4 of SGS, conducted in 2011. Since the previous rounds identified emerging HIV epidemics among high-risk groups, the focus of Round 4 was to ascertain the spread of HIV among these groups and to understand any changes in behaviours that increase or decrease the risk of HIV infection.

The 2011 Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance (IBBS) was conducted to obtain a picture of the magnitude of the problems, risk factors, knowledge and program scope, with the aim of understanding the dynamics of the HIV epidemic in Indonesia. The 2011 IBBS was conducted in 23 cities/regencies in 11 provinces, with most of the cities/regencies selected being those also surveyed in the 2007 IBBS.

From June 2009 to February 2010, Vietnam’s second round of integrated HIV/STI biological and behavioral surveillance (IBBS) was conducted among select population groups in Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, An Giang, Da Nang, Nghe An, Yen Bai, Dong Nai, Dien Bien and Lao Cai. The IBBS utilized community-based sampling to estimate the prevalence of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI) and to provide indicators of risk behaviors and intervention exposure among most-at-risk populations (MARP). These included injecting drug users (IDU), female sex workers (FSW), and men who have sex with men (MSM).

This project is the first research to be conducted with men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender (TG) people in Fiji since 1998. It aims to inform the public health response to HIV and sexual health among MSM and Tg in Fiji and assist in the development of community-based activities. The research was community-based and the survey data were collected by MSM and Tg community research assistants. Although not necessarily representative of all MSM and TG in Fiji, the data gathered in this research are extremely valuable in helping to understand the risk behaviour and other factors among MSM and TG, and in enabling the development of recommendations for future HIV prevention and health promotion actions. As a community-based study, this research was very much focused on generating information to help answer the question: "Where to from here?".

The Viet Nam Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 2011) was conducted from December 2010 to January 2011 by the General Statistics Office of Viet Nam, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA). Financial and technical support for the survey was provided by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and financial support was provided by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Viet Nam.

The Philippines, while seemingly fortunate in thus far being able to avert a full-blown HIV/AIDS epidemic, remains at risk for this potentially disastrous possibility. On both the policy and program fronts, strategic areas have been identified to better focus the various sector-specific prevention and control activities. Nonetheless, if recent and current financing and allocation patterns are any measure, the reality may be far from the drawing board ideal. The current HIV/AIDS financing backbone will thus have to be streamlined and made more efficient and effective.

In 2011, the Government of Solomon Islands committed to undertake a comprehensive National AIDS Spending Assessment (NASA) of HIV and AIDS expenditure in Solomon Islands. This report is the result of a spending assessment exercise that was extensive, expansive and rigorous. It was coordinated by Solomon Islands National AIDS Commission (SINAC) in collaboration with UNAIDS and stakeholders involved in the response to HIV and AIDS. 

This pilot project was the first of its kind in the country. It has brought different stakeholders together and used their strengths to develop a comprehensive response to HIV and AIDS. The capacities built locally will help in scaling up the interventions. Overall, the project was successful in achieving most of its desired outcomes. It has provided some valuable lessons and learnings regarding the implementation of HIV and AIDS prevention programmes in the country. Learnings from the project needs to be incorporated in the next steps, to ensure that the programme increases its efficiency and effectiveness.