RESEARCH ARTICLE b n

Full list of author information is available at the end of the articleBackground Substantial research among men who have sex with men (MSM) has documented severe disparities in HIV rates and in access to HIV services. A recent meta-analysis and systematic review estimated pooled HIV prevalence rates ranging from 3 % in the Middle East to 25 % in the Caribbean [1]. In Brazil, the first country to provide free and universal treatment to people living with HIV [2], a large national study of 3859 MSM from 10 cities reported that the HIV prevalence ranged from 5 to 24 % with a pooled prevalence of 14 % among all cities [3]. In Salvador, the third largest and one of Brazil’s poorest cities, the prevalence of HIV among MSM was 7 % (3%-10%) [3]. Studies have also documented low levels of MSM accessing HIV services. Global weighted estimates base