Mplus+ is a non-profit organization based in Chiang-Mai, Thailand, which works primarily to promote sexual health for men who have sex with men (MSM). Mplus+ was founded by USAID in 2004, after reports of increased HIV/AIDS prevalence among the MSM population in Northern Thailand. Although male sex workers (self-identified as gay or heterosexual) are their most important target group, Mplus+ also serves the gay, bisexual, lesbian and transgender communities.
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Each of these groups is addressed on its own through a variety of focused interventions and outreach. Mplus+ provides outreach through workshops, English education for male sex workers, and handing out condoms and information at places where men meet to have sex (public parks, public toilets, gay saunas, gay bars, gay massage parlors, Chiang Mai stadium, Mae Ping riverside, etc.) They have also provide educational activities and HIV prevention workshops with local schools and Chiang Mai University focusing on safe sex, fighting stigma against sexual minorities and promoting familiarity with correct condom usage.At its drop-in center, they offer face-to-face counseling; a hotline for phone counseling and have plans to set up an online counseling service.
Most recently, Mplus has also established a partnership with the Chiang Mai MSM Clinic, trying to identify health concerns facing MSM and encouraging individuals to get tested for HIV and other STIs. Currently, Mplus+ , funded by the Australian Association of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) and working in collaboration with Deakin University, is working on a research project to produce animations aimed at increasing understandings of safe sex practices and addressing low perceptions of personal risk. MSM are not adequately reached through HIV prevention programmes in Thailand most likely because little is known about their particular situations, contexts and practices. To address this, the project is first researching the sexual practices MSM and Thai and migrant male sex workers (MSW) to focus on understanding their sexual practices as they are socially produced in terms of Mplus+'s impact on current HIV prevention programmes. The second phase of the project is devoted to using the data generated from the sociological research to develop multimodal educational resources (animations, vod/pod casts and other digital and print-based multimedia) with the MSM and MSW with whom the research is carried out. This kind of collaborative research has the potential to build stronger alliances between MSM and MSW (of all genders) and could improve advocacy efforts around sexual health and rights, particularly in relation to HIV prevention. The animations will ultimately be incorporated into Mplus+’s already established and trusted HIV prevention programme via Ipods, mobile phones and mobile–based portable devices.
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