BEYOND Study: Improving HIV Treatment and Well-Being Among Young MSM in Vietnam

The BEYOND Study aims to evaluate HIV treatment outcomes and well-being among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) living with HIV in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Despite progress in HIV services, YMSM continue to experience disparities in engagement in care, antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, and viral suppression, influenced by individual, social, and structural factors including stigma and limited access to person-centered care. This prospective cohort study will enroll 300 YMSM living with HIV from four clinical sites, including public, private, and community-based clinics. Participants will be followed for 12 months, with data collection at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. The study will assess key outcomes including viral suppression, ART adherence, retention in care, mental health, and quality of life. In addition, in-depth interviews will be conducted with a subset of 20-30 participants to explore experiences with HIV care and barriers and facilitators to engagement. The study will also examine the implementation and perceived impact of person-centered care and one-stop-shop service models across different healthcare settings. Findings from this study will inform strategies to improve HIV treatment outcomes and support the development of integrated, patient-centered approaches to care for YMSM living with HIV in Vietnam and similar settings.