BIRD - Towards Sustainability

12/05/2026

We are excited to share that our latest qualitative study, "Barriers and Enabling Factors for Taking PrEP: The Lived Perspectives of Female, Male and Transgender S*x Workers in Thailand," has just been published in AIDS and Behavior!

As part of a larger mixed-methods project, we conducted 13 focus group discussions with 113 s*x workers (SWs) across seven high-burden provinces. Our goal was to move beyond the question of why groups are hard to reach and instead look at how health systems must adapt to be more accessible.

New Research Alert: Bridging the PrEP Gap for S*x Workers in Thailand We are excited to share that our latest qualitative study, "Barriers and Enabling Factors for Taking PrEP: The Lived Perspectives of Female, Male and Transgender S*x Workers in Thailand," has just been published in AIDS and Behavi...

02/02/2026

PrEP for S*x Workers Study: Optimizing PrEP Uptake for S*x Workers in Thailand 🇹🇭

Our latest study, a collaboration between Swing Thailand and BIRD - Towards Sustainability, published in S*xual Health demonstrates a suboptimal level of PrEP uptake among s*x workers in Thailand - particularly among female s*x workers (FSWs), but also among male (MSWs) and transgender (TGSWs) s*x workers. This study was funded by Gilead Sciences.

Analyzing data from 1,511 participants across seven provinces, we identified that PrEP non-users were most likely to be young (18–24 years) and working in locations not considered s*x work hubs.

The Barriers: Uptake is hindered by a lack of awareness, low perceived HIV risk, and HIV stigma. Crucially, the role of venue management significantly influences s*xual health practices.

The Opportunity: Despite current low usage, there is significant interest in PrEP among non-users. This interest increases notably when Long-Acting Injectable PrEP (LAI-PrEP) is proposed as an option.

The Path Forward: Program implementers must address these multiple factors - from product choice to venue engagement - to successfully scale up PrEP service delivery for all populations engaged in s*x work. To reach these diverse populations, we must move beyond standard delivery.
- Expand Key Population-Led Health Services (KPLHS) where feasible.
- Establish stronger linkages between CBOs and governmental/private facilities.
- Integrate PrEP into broader s*xual and reproductive health services.

📄 Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/gDkmUVhq
Authors: Vannakit R, Janyam S, Phaengnongyang C, Sumalu S, Lertpiriyasuwat C, Manopaiboon C, Girault P, Cassell M, Wolf RC, Ananworanich J.

*xualHealth
*xualHealth

Optimizing PrEP Uptake for S*x Workers in Thailand 🇹🇭 Our latest study, a collaboration between BIRD - Bangkok Interdisciplinary Research and Development and SWING Thailand, published in S*xual Health demonstrates a suboptimal level of PrEP uptake among s*x workers in Thailand - particularly a...

02/02/2026

ทุนการศึกษา Australia Awards Mekong-Australia Partnership (AA-MAP) สำหรับปีการศึกษา 2027 เปิดรับสมัครแล้วตั้งแต่วันนี้!

คว้าโอกาสเรียนต่อปริญญาโทแบบทุนเต็มจำนวนที่ออสเตรเลีย และเข้าร่วมเครือข่ายผู้นำ Mekong Leaders Network

👉 สมัครได้ถึงวันที่ 30 เมษายน 2026 ทาง https://oasis.dfat.gov.au/

🎓 ในสาขาวิชาเกี่ยวข้องสอดคล้องกับประเด็นสำคัญของโครงการความร่วมมือประเทศลุ่มแม่น้ำโขง-ออสเตรเลีย (Mekong-Australia Partnership: MAP) ได้แก่ ความมั่นคงด้านน้ำ, การรับมือกับการเปลี่ยนแปลงสภาพภูมิอากาศ, การต่อต้านอาชญากรรมข้ามชาติ, ความสามารถในการฟื้นตัวทางเศรษฐกิจและการบูรณาการกรอบความร่วมมือระดับอนุภูมิภาค, ความเท่าเทียมทางเพศ ความเสมอภาคของบุคคลที่มีความพิการและความครอบคลุมทางสังคม

📝 โดยเราสนับสนุนผู้สมัครที่เป็นผู้หญิง ผู้พิการ กลุ่มชาติพันธุ์ และกลุ่มผู้สมัครจากจังหวัดเป้าหมาย

🌟 มีการจัดสิ่งอำนวยความสะดวกที่เหมาะสมสำหรับผู้สมัครที่มีความพิการ

หากคุณมี passion ในการสร้างการเปลี่ยนแปลงเและพร้อมสร้างผลลัพธ์ที่จับต้องได้ นี่คือโอกาสที่จะเปลี่ยนชีวิตของคุณ!

✨ ดูข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมได้ที่ https://australiaawardsmap.org/

----------

Applications for the 2027 Australia Awards Mekong-Australia Partnership (AA-MAP) Scholarships are now open!

Secure a fully funded Master's degree in Australia and become part of the exclusive Mekong Leaders Network.

👉 Apply before30 April 2026: https://oasis.dfat.gov.au/

🎓Study in MAP thematic areas: water security, climate resilience, combatting transnational crime, economic resilience and subregional integration, and gender equality, disability equity and social inclusion.

📝Applications are encouraged from women, people with disability, ethnic minority groups and people from targeted provinces.

🌟Reasonable adjustments are available for applicants with disabilities.

If you’re passionate about creating positive change and ready to make a real impact, this is could be a life-changing opportunity.

✨ More information at https://australiaawardsmap.org/

24/01/2026

Expanding choice is the key to ending AIDS in Asia-Pacific:

I am proud to share our latest report: “Regional PrEP Scoping Study – Enabling Delivery of Long-Acting Injectable PrEP Options in Asia-Pacific.” Download at:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ravipa-vannakit_enabling-delivery-of-lai-prep-options-in-activity-7420674867924037632-gbrl?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAArDm0QBS3f5_TLLK-RfCBNSsmrXq6Ei_gM

As we face an emerging HIV prevention crisis, long-acting (LA) PrEP offers a transformative opportunity to bridge the gap in coverage. This study provides a multisectoral analysis across eight focus countries, identifying the enablers, gaps, and structural shifts needed to make LA PrEP a reality for those who need it most.

Prepared by BIRD - Towards Sustainability (Bangkok Interdisciplinary Research and Development), with technical support from UNAIDS Asia Pacific, this work is grounded in the expertise of more than 70 stakeholders interviewed for this study. Our contributors included representatives from Ministries of Health, national AIDS programmes, key population-led organizations, UN and technical partners, academic institutions and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Our goal is simple but ambitious: to strengthen HIV prevention and ensure that choice - not just access - is at the heart of our regional response.