HIV Disparity Between Black & White Gay Men

Below is an article that speaks about why there may be such huge differences between black and white gay men when it comes to HIV infection.  There is a lot of speculation as to why there is such inequality between gay black and white men and HIV: incarceration, circumcision, how long someone had been infected, sex with someone of unknown HIV status.

What I found interesting is when these investigators looked at over 5,000 gay men what they found was most of that wasn’t the problem.  It would seem that not knowing the status of partners and the fact that black gay men were less likely to be on medication to treat their HIV were, at least in part, the problem.

So the investigators are encouraging gay men, and especially black gay men to communicate about HIV with potential partners and then, we as an agency need to look at how we can reduce the barriers of treatment to black males living with HIV.

Personally,  my thought is that STIGMA is the single strongest barrier to treatment, testing and reducing the transmission of HIV and until we can remove the power of stigma we will continue to experience these kinds of disheartening gaps in who the virus in infecting.

So take this challenge, talk to someone today about HIV.  Talk about the the people it is infecting, talk about what CARES is doing, talk about how sad you feel that people are not comfortable discussing HIV. TALK, TALK, TALK.  Talk away the fear and ignorance stigma produces and encourage others to do so.

Pat

Be The Change

UNITED STATES:   ”Understanding Disparities in HIV Infection Between Black and White MSM in the United States”
AIDS Vol. 25; No. 8: P. 1103-1112    (06.15.11):: Alexandra Oster and others

The investigators sought to evaluate several hypotheses for HIV infection disparities between white and black men who have sex with men, including incarceration, partner HIV status, circumcision, sexual networks, and duration of infectiousness. The study design incorporated the 2008 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System, a cross-sectional survey performed in 21 US cities.

MSM were interviewed and tested for HIV. For previously undiagnosed MSM, logistic regression was used to test associations between newly diagnosed HIV and incarceration history, partner HIV status, circumcision status, and sexual networks (oldest partners, concurrency and partner risk behaviors). For HIV-positive MSM, factors related to duration of infectiousness were assessed.

Among 5,183 previously undiagnosed MSM, incarceration history, circumcision status, and sexual networks were not independently associated with HIV infection. Infection was associated with having HIV-positive partners (adjusted odds ratio=1.9, 95 percent confidence interval=1.2-3.0) or partners of unknown status (AOR=1.4, CI=1.1-1.7). “Of these two factors, only one was more common among black MSM – having partners of unknown HIV status. Among previously diagnosed HIV-positive MSM, black MSM were less likely to be on antiretroviral therapy (ART),” the authors wrote.

HIV infection differences between black and white MSM may partly be explained by less knowledge of partner HIV status and lower ART use among black MSM, the investigators concluded. “Efforts to encourage discussions about HIV status between MSM and their partners and decrease barriers to ART provision among black MSM may decrease transmission,” they noted.

National HIV Testing Day 6/27/2011

Monday, June 27th is the 16th observance of  National HIV Testing Day.  CARES would like to encourage individuals to learn their HIV status by visiting the following test sites for free, confidential 20-minute HIV testing on the following dates during the month of June:

In Kalamazoo and Battle Creek:

• Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m.-6 p.m. at CARES, 629 Pioneer St., Kalamazoo
• 1st Wednesday of every month from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at the Edison Neighborhood Association, 816 Washington Ave., Kalamazoo
• 2nd Wednesday of every month from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at the Vine Neighborhood Association, 511 W. Vine, Kalamazoo
• 3rd Wednesday of every month from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at S.H.A.R.E. Center, 120 Grove St., Battle  Creek
• 4th Wednesday of every month from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at Ministry with Community, 440 N. Church St., Kalamazoo

Participating partners in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek include the Edison Neighborhood Association, the Vine Neighborhood Association, the S.H.A.R.E. Center and Ministry with Community.

In Benton Harbor:

• Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. for walk-ins, or by appointment from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. at CARES, 185 E. Main St., Suite 604, Benton Harbor
• National Testing Day – Monday, June 27 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Benton Harbor Street Ministry, 200 E. Empire Avenue in Benton Harbor

Participating partners in Benton Harbor’s National HIV Testing Day event include the Berrien County Health Department, Lakeland Health Specialties, United Way of Southwest Michigan, Bethel Christian Restoration Center, Benton Harbor Street Ministry, The OutCenter, Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency and community volunteers.  This event will also offer colon cancer screening kits, as well as cholesterol and blood pressure screenings.

For more information, please call CARES at 269-381-2437 (Kalamazoo) or 269-927-2437 (Benton Harbor.)

PEPFAR Gives New Guidelines for MSM HIV Prevention

This article is re-posted from May 23, 2011, courtesy of POZ, with additional comment by Matthew Bradley of CARES

The Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF), a worldwide advocacy network for men who have sex with men (MSM), is encouraged by new HIV prevention guidelines from The Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator for use in countries receiving assistance from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), according to an MSMGF statement. However, MSMGF asserts the guidelines lack specific recommendations.

The guidelines define six core elements for any effective HIV prevention program aimed at MSM. These include: community-based outreach; distribution of condoms and condom-compatible lubricants; HIV counseling and testing; active linkage to health care and antiretroviral treatment; targeted information, education and communication; and prevention, screening and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.

Matthew Bradley, Prevention Specialist from CARES’ Benton Harbor office, shares his opinion:  “I think that PEPfar is a great program that will help save many lives in countries that have the need for assistance the most.  I think the first step in these programs should be education.  Educating the populations on HIV transmissions and working to reduce homophobic behavior, which causes more stigma, and causes HIV rates to sky rocket because people are scared to seek HIV education.  More training should be given to healthcare providers in order for them to know how to get around the trust barriers and to also build a trust bond in their respective communities.”

To read the entire MSMGF statement, go to http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-forum-on-msm–hiv-encouraged-by-new-pepfar-guidance-on-hiv-prevention-for-men-who-have-sex-with-men-122262008.html