Butuan City – Men who have sex with men (MSM) have the highest prevalence of HIV cases in the Caraga Region, according to recent data from the Department of Health (DOH).
This is followed by young key populations, people in prostitution, transgender women, and people deprived of liberty.
Anton Torralba, Regional Program Officer of Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines (SHIP), explained that while the gay population may not be the largest, the high number of HIV cases among MSM can be attributed to the prevalence of cisgender men who engage in same-sex sexual activities as a fetish.
Torralba emphasized that while these individuals may engage in same-sex sexual behavior, it does not necessarily mean they identify as gay. The term “gay” is a self-ascribed label and cannot be imposed on someone.
According to the DOH Center for Health Caraga and the Epidemiology Bureau, 94% of the 1,622 HIV cases in the region are among men, with women accounting for only 6% or 96 individuals.
This disparity is attributed to the behavioral patterns of key populations. Torralba attributed this trend to the specific behaviors of key populations.