Will the global HIV response fail gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men?. Issue 1 (21st November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ayala, George; Santos, Glenn‐Milo
• Is Part Of: Journal of the International AIDS Society. Volume 19:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2016-11-21
• Subjects: HIV -- gay men -- men who have sex with men -- sexual health -- HIV services -- HIV prevention -- HIV treatment -- treatment continuum -- community -- community‐led -- community‐based; AIDS (Disease) -- Periodicals; HIV infections -- Periodicals; 616.9792005
• DOI: 10.7448/IAS.19.1.21098
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1758-2652

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: Gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men are among the small number of groups for whom HIV remains uncontrolled worldwide. Although there have been recent and notable decreases in HIV incidence across several countries, prevalence and incidence is consistently higher or rising among men who have sex with men when compared with other groups. Methods: In 2014, MSMGF (the Global Forum on MSM & HIV) conducted its third biennial Global Men's Health and Rights Study, an international, multilingual, web‐based cross‐sectional survey of men who have sex with men recruited through online convenience sampling. We tested hypothesized correlates (selected a priori ) of successfully achieving each step along the HIV prevention and treatment continuum by fitting separate generalized estimating equation models adjusted for clustering by country in multivariate analyses. All models controlled for ability to meet basic financial needs, age, healthcare coverage, having a regular provider, region and country‐level income. Results: Higher provider discrimination and sexual stigma were associated with lower odds of perceived access to services, service utilization and virologic suppression. Conversely, accessing services from community‐based organizations focused on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people; greater engagement in gay community; and comfort with healthcare providers were associated with higher odds of achieving steps along the prevention and treatment continuum. Conclusions: To meet accelerated global HIV targets, global leaders must adopt a differentiated and bolder response, in keeping with current epidemiologic trends and community‐based research. The HIV‐related needs of gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men must be addressed openly, quickly and with sufficient resources to support evidence‐based, community‐led and human rights‐affirming interventions at scale.