A 2008 study released by Open Society Institute grantee the Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) revealed that men who have sex with men (MSM) have an HIV prevalence rate of 21.4 percent—two times the general HIV prevalence among men of reproductive age—yet they are not included in the country's AIDS strategy. The study also revealed that criminalization of same sex behavior and the stigmatization of MSM contribute to their HIV risk.
CEDEP's innovative and persistent advocacy on the study findings recently resulted in an invitation by the Malawi National AIDS Commission to CEDEP to discuss the study findings with health policy planners across the country in hopes of increasing their awareness on the HIV prevention needs of MSM.
Florence Kayambo, head of policy support development of the Malawi National AIDS Council, who has in the past questioned the visibility of MSM, attended an MSM sexual health workshop organized by CEDEP. In an article after the event, Kayambo stated that despite social, legal, and religious taboos, "it is certain that gay people exist in every society" and that "there is a need to involve them in HIV and AIDS programs." (See "CEDEP Challenges Government on HIV and AIDS.")
The study was also disseminated at the International AIDS Conference and the Global Forum on MSM and HIV Pre-Conference in August 2008 in Mexico City, and at the December 2008 International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa in Dakar, Senegal.
CEDEP launched the study in partnership with the University of Malawi and the Center for Public Health and Human Rights at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health to document HIV prevalence among MSM. In addition to its HIV prevalence findings, the study found that nearly 18 percent of study respondents reported that they were afraid to seek health services, and of the MSM who were HIV positive, over 95 precent were unaware of their HIV status. CEDEP is urging national and international health planners to integrate strategies to meet the needs of MSM into national and regional AIDS plans.
CEDEP was established in 2005 to address the human rights and health needs of minority groups in Malawi. Presently the organization focuses on minority groups such as prisoners, sex workers, and people involved in same sex relationships. More information on their activities is available by contacting Cedep_org@yahoo.com.
Similar studies were conducted in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa, supported by the Sexual Health and Rights Project and the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa.