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Research into the health and behavior
of gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM) should be put to greater
practical use – translating the findings into education and support programs.
This was the conclusion from an audience discussion held at the conference.
The conference heard that HIV
prevalence is as high in MSM globally as it is in heterosexual people in
sub-Saharan Africa. Lack of more detailed statistical research makes it
difficult to know the true picture in many individual African countries, for
both HIV prevalence and risk. Hostile attitudes towards homosexuality and MSM
in many areas of Africa compound the difficulties experienced in conducting
research projects with MSM, making it hard to reach a representative sample of
men. And any research is limited in that it doesn’t then provide ongoing
support or education to the participants.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins
University attempted to address some of these problems in setting up and
delivering an innovative project in Blantyre, Malawi. The scheme recruited 330
MSM to take part in research into their health and HIV risk behaviors. Staff
then followed-up the research by offering a continuing program of health
monitoring, education and support to 100 participants who were HIV negative.
Peer support workers were trained and worked with the men over the next year,
as well as training local doctors and nurses in the health and HIV prevention
needs of MSM. Only one participant dropped out of the program during the year.
The conference session also heard
about projects working with MSM in India, the US, France and Peru.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus.
To learn more about The Friends of
AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
