Title:	MOBILE PHONES AS HIGH IMPACT, LOW COST TOOLS, IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS WITH MEN THAT HAVE SEX WITH MEN AND MALE SEX WORKERS
Author(s):	Christopher S. Walsh
ISBN:	978-972-8924-82-9
Editors:	Gunilla Bradley and Piet Kommers
Year:	2009
Edition:	Single
Keywords:	HIV/AIDS prevention, animations, mobile phones, MPLUS+, MSM, MSW, sexual practice, risk
Type:	Full Paper
First Page:	163
Last Page:	171
Language:	English
Cover:
Full Contents:	click to dowload
Paper Abstract:	This paper reports on the project design and research developed to expand HIV/AIDS prevention programmes at Mplus+, a grass roots community-based organisation formed to improve the sexual health of men that have sex with men (MSM), including transgenders, Thai male sex workers (MSW) and migrant male sex workers, using mobile phones and Bluetooth technology. The project produced four animations aimed at increasing understandings of safe sex practices and addressing low perceptions of personal risk to HIV/AIDS. The project, an international collaboration, was undertaken because MSM and MSW were not adequately reached through HIV prevention programmes in Thailand because little was known about their particular situations, contexts and practices. To address this, the project first researched the sexual practices MSM, transgenders and Thai and migrant male sex workers (MSW) to focus on understanding their sexual practices as they are socially produced. The second phase of the project was devoted to using the data generated from the sociological research to produce animations, making use of powerful—context specific—narratives with the MSM and MSW with whom the research was carried out. This kind of collaborative research built stronger alliances between MSM and MSW (of all genders) and is improving advocacy efforts around sexual health and rights, particularly in relation to HIV/AIDS prevention in Chiang Mai. The animations are being incorporated into Mplus+’s already established and trusted HIV prevention programme via mobile phones, Ipods and mobile–based portable devices and distributed to different social and sex venues frequented by MSM and MSW.
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