Cell Phones for Bringing Gay Men from Internet to the Health Center

In Peru, the national HIV prevention strategy is focused on referrals by educators to local health centers for testing. It is estimated that less than half of the gay community has been tested for HIV and many of them are unaware of their status. A team at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia is developing a platform that sends tailored text messages promoting HIV testing at a health centre. The team aims to reach men visiting niche websites and encourage them to join existing health centre users receiving text reminders about HIV testing. The messages will address the reasons for not getting tested, and tackle the fear and stigma associated with HIV. The project hopes that, by the end of Phase I, the percentage of gay men who will have adequate knowledge, attitudes and behaviours regarding HIV prevention will have increased by 200% and those who get tested will increase by 45%.