The Impact of Social Support on HIV Care, Support, and Treatment (CST) Service Utilization Among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM): A Cross-Sectional Study in Medan City

Dhani Syahputra Bukit; Ayudiah Khairani; R Kintoko Rochadi

doi:10.56303/jhnresearch.v5i1.856

Authors

Dhani Syahputra Bukit Department of Health Education and Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3033-3872
Ayudiah Khairani Department of Health Education and Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Indonesia
R. Kintoko Rochadi Department of Health Education and Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1011-7603

Keywords:

Health service utilization, HIV, Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM), Risky sexual behaviour, Social Support

Abstract

Men who have sex with men (MSM) remain a key population with a heightened risk of HIV infection, underscoring the importance of HIV care, support and treatment (CST) services in improving health outcomes. However, the utilization of CST services among MSM is often hindered by stigma, discrimination, and fear of receiving a positive HIV diagnosis. These barriers highlight the need to understand the role of social support in encouraging service uptake. This cross-sectional study involved 83 MSM in Medan City, selected through purposive accidental sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed through univariate, chi-square bivariate test, and logistic regression test. The results showed that all assessed forms of social support—emotional, appraisal, informational, and instrumental— were significantly associated with the use of HIV CST Services. Among these, informational support was identified as the most influential factor in increasing service utilization (p=0,007, OR=4,3). In conclusion, informational support plays a dominant role in enhancing the utilization of HIV CST services among MSM. Strengthening the provision of accurate information and guidance is therefore essential in improving service engagement. Recommendations include expanding outreach efforts, enhancing social support mechanisms for MSM, and promoting safe and supportive environment to reduce stigma and encourage access to CST services.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Moyo E, Moyo P, Murewanhema G, Mhango M, Chitungo I, Dzinamarira T. Key populations and Sub-Saharan Africa’s HIV response. Front Public Health. 2023 May 16;11(1079990):1–4.

Morell-Mengual V, Gil-Llario MD, Fernádez-García O, Ballester-Arnal R. Factors Associated with Condom Use in Anal Intercourse Among Spanish Men Who Have Sex with Men: Proposal for an Explanatory Model. AIDS Behav. 2021 Nov 1;25(11):3836–45.

UNAIDS. HIV and gay men and other men who have sex with men — Thematic briefing note — 2024 global AIDS update The Urgency of Now: AIDS at a Crossroads [Internet]. 2024. Available from: https://aidsinfo.unaids.org/

SIHA. Laporan Eksekutif Perkembangan HIV/AIDS Dan Penyakit Infeksi Menular Seksual (PIMS) Tahun 2023. [Internet]. 2023. Available from: https://hivaids-pimsindonesia.or.id/download/file/Rev_Laporan_Tahunan_dan_Triwulan_HIVPIMS_2023.pdf

P AR, Nasution MA, Achmad N. Implementation of the Model Health Center HIV Counseling and Testing Program to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) Target. GOVERNANCE: Jurnal Ilmiah Kajian Politik Lokal dan Pembangunan. 2021 Sep 10;7(3).

Septiyansah C, Mesra R. The Role of the Pesona Jakarta Foundation in Implementing HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Programs in the MSM Community in DKI Jakarta. COMTE: Journal of Sociology Research and Education [Internet]. 2024 Jul;1(3):129–37. Available from: https://naluriedukasi.com/index.php/comtejsre/article/view/105

Kemenkes. Peraturan Menteri Kesehatan Republik Indonesia Nomor 23 Tahun 2022 Tentang Penanggulangan Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Acquired Immuno-deficiency Syndrome, dan Infeksi Menular Seksual. Kementerian Kesehatan Republik Indonesia, 23 Indonesia; 2022 p. 119.

Kementerian Kesehatan. Laporan Penilaian Risiko Cepat MPOX di Indonesia Tahun 2024 [Internet]. Indonesia; 2024 Sep. Available from: https://www.scribd.com/document/809298576/Laporan-Penilaian-Risiko-Cepat-Mpox-di-Indonesia-Tahun-2024

Machmudi I Al. Media Indonesia. 2024. 35% of New AIDS Infections Found in MSM Group. Available from: https://mediaindonesia.com/humaniora/721991/35-infeksi-baru-aids-ditemukan-pada-kelompok-lsl

Saragi C. Risk Factors for HIV Incidents in Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) at the Galatea Foundation, Medan City in 2023. [Internet]. [Jambi]: Universitas Jambi; 2023. Available from: https://unja.ac.id/

Maharani R, Priwahyuni Y, Ananta AP. Determinan Perilaku Lelaki Seks Lelaki (LSL) di Kota Pekanbaru. Ensiklopedia of Jurnal [Internet]. 2023 Jan;5(2):126–33. Available from: http://jurnal.ensiklopediaku.org

Strother PJ, Tipayamongkholgul M, Kosaisevee V, Suwannapong N. Effects of psychosocial factors on nonadherence to ART in Ganta, Nimba county, Liberia. AIDS Res Ther. 2022 Dec 1;19(1).

Lazuardi E, Kaldor J, Bell S, Rowe E, Wirawan DN, Praja YK, et al. Understanding The Social Influences on Engaging Key Populations With HIV Prevention: a Qualitative Study with Men Who Have Sex With Men in Three Indonesian Cities. Vol. 31, AIDS Education and Prevention. 2019.

Elopre L, Ott C, Lambert CC, Amico KR, Sullivan PS, Marrazzo J, et al. Missed Prevention Opportunities: Why Young, Black MSM with Recent HIV Diagnosis did not Access HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Services. AIDS Behav. 2021 May 1;25(5):1464–73.

Purnamawati D, Nurfadhilah, Zam-zam R, Amalia K, Ningsih RZ. HIV Experiences of Men Who Like Men (MSM); Qualitative Analysis of Self-Perception, Response to Diagnosis, Preventive Behaviors, and Peer Support. Jurnal Kedokteran dan Kesehatan [Internet]. 2022 Jul;18(2):155–63. Available from: https://jurnal.umj.ac.id/index.php/JKK

Fibriansari RD, Cahyadi AH. Lost To Follow Up Terapi Antiretroviral pada Orang Dengan HIV/AIDS di Lumajang Lost To Follow Up Antiretroviral Therapy in People With HIV/AIDS at Lumajang. JURNAL PIKes: Penelitian Ilmu Kesehatan [Internet]. 2021 Aug;2(1):1–8. Available from: https://ojs.pikes.iik.ac.id/index.php/jpikes/article/view/11

Abon SHER, Wahyuni MMD, Landi S. The Relationship between Health Promotion Factors about HIV/AIDS, Internal Self-Stigma, and Social Support with the Utilization of Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) Services by LGBT Groups in Kupang City. Jurnal PAZIH. 2019 Apr;8:931–40.

Zapata JP, Petroll A, de St. Aubin E, Quinn K. Perspectives on Social Support and Stigma in PrEP-related Care among Gay and Bisexual Men: A Qualitative Investigation. J Homosex. 2022;69(2):254–76.

Threats M, Boyd DT, Diaz JE, Adebayo OW. Deterrents and motivators of HIV testing among young Black men who have sex with men in North Carolina. AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV. 2021;33(7):943–51.

Agustini, Rohman MA. Coping Stress in HIV Suffers in Men Like Men (MLM). Journal of Scientech Research and Development [Internet]. 2024 Jun;6(1):65. Available from: https://idm.or.id/JSCR/index.php/JSCR

Herman H, Fadilah N, Fikri M. Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Prevention Behavior among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) in the Gender Sexuality Group Community. Journal of Health and Nutrition Research. 2024 Apr 9;3(1):39–45.

Fitriani E, Hakim MZ, Wardhani DT. Pendukung Sebaya dengan HIV/AIDS : Determinan Sosial Dalam Mengatasi Lost To Follow-Up (LTFU). REHSOS: Jurnal Ilmiah Rehabilitasi Sosial. 2020;2(2):169–88.

Diliana, Farich A, Sary L, Amirus K, Setiawati OR. Analysis of Forms of Family Support for the Self-Concept of People with HIV. Jurnal ILKES (Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan). 2023;14(1):62–74.

Schultz BE, Corbett CF, Hughes RG. Instrumental support: A conceptual analysis. Nurs Forum (Auckl). 2022 Jul 1;57(4):665–70.

Vliegenthart-Jongbloed K, Willemsen R, Rokx C. Stopping HIV: The #aware.hiv project. CMI Communications. 2024 Jun;1(1):100002.

Rizal M. Counselor Strategy in Increasing Self-Efficacy for People with HIV/AIDS (Odha) in Efforts to Prevent Drug Discontinuation at the Palu City Health Service [Internet]. [Palu]: Universitas Islam Negeri Datokrama Palu; 2025. Available from: https://repository.uindatokarama.ac.id/id/eprint/4177/1/MUH%20RIZAL.pdf