USAID Supports Creative Use of Social Media to Increase HIV Knowledge

Friday, August 11, 2017

Men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender (TG) communities in Vietnam are disproportionately affected by HIV. The USAID Sustainable HIV Response From Technical Assistance (SHIFT) Project is helping Blue Sky Club, a civil society group and long-standing partner of PEPFAR in Vietnam, use creative and cost-effective techniques to increase awareness of HIV risk behaviors and available HIV services for MSM and TG communities in Vietnam. This support included revamping the group’s Facebook Fanpage to enhance access to information and resources for self-assessing HIV risk and MSM and TG-friendly HIV testing and treatment services. Blue Sky Club was also able to host “Let Me Say,” the first of a series of Facebook Livestream Talk Shows on HIV, which has attracted more than 16,900 views so far and nearly 100 comments from community members. So What? Access to information on HIV through social media has a significant impact on HIV risk behaviors and treatment adherence among MSM and TG communities.