Currently, over 50 percent of people in Vietnam use the internet and social media. This figure increases to almost 99 percent for men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW), who are most at risk of contracting HIV.

On March 23, USAID’s Healthy Markets activity held the first ever social media forum for HIV control in Vietnam. Over 100 members of the Vietnamese government, civil society representatives, and entrepreneurs gathered to share how they are using social media, e-commerce, and other digital tools to increase the awareness, reach and consumption of HIV products and services. In addition, USAID presented examples of successful digital initiatives which have boosted HIV community-based testing and use of pre-exposure prophylaxis, particularly among hard to reach and high-risk groups. These case studies have reached more than 300,000 MSM and TWG with HIV information, more than two-thirds of whom had previously not been in contact with peer educators or HIV services.

So What?  Social media is effective in creating awareness among hard to reach MSM and TGW and is twice as effective as traditional methods like routine HIV testing referrals. This forum kick-started the conversation between health leaders, international partners, and local civil society on how to use social media to reach those most at risk of HIV.