Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

HIV management among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men remains a global concern. In Taiwan, Tongzhi-a Mandarin term for this group-are disproportionately affected by HIV, accounting for over 80% of local HIV transmissions and forming a key focus of the national HIV response. Since PrEP's roll-out in 2016, Taiwan's programs have prioritized Tongzhi under 35, who comprise 66.6% of new HIV cases, leaving middle-aged and older Tongzhi (moTongzhi), representing the remaining 33.4%, largely underserved. Consequently, moTongzhi face a disproportionate burden of adverse HIV outcomes, fueled by persistent socio-structural inequities. Despite these disparities, Taiwan's age-specific data remain scarce, and most local studies continue to center on younger Tongzhi; rendering moTongzhi under-represented and overlooking the intersection of age and sexuality in the context of HIV prevention. Addressing these gaps requires community-informed, age-inclusive strategies that better reflect the diverse realities of moTongzhi in Taiwan's HIV landscape. Accordingly, our proposed project entails a series of meetings involving a broad spectrum of community, academic, clinical, and government stakeholders, to (1) explore the current landscape of HIV research participation and representation among Tongzhi across age groups in Taiwan; (2) discuss social, structural, and methodological barriers hindering moTongzhi's inclusion in Taiwanese HIV research; (3) identify feasible and acceptable strategies to improve moTongzhi's visibility and representation in HIV research; and (4) synthesize and disseminate findings to stakeholders, and collaboratively develop a comprehensive report of community-informed, age-inclusive, and context-sensitive strategies. This work seeks to advance more equitable knowledge production on Tongzhi in HIV research, and will catalyze future collaborative efforts aimed at addressing the intersecting challenges of HIV and aging among Tongzhi in Taiwan.