Men who have sex with men (MSM)
Sexual risk behaviour among men who have sex with men is increasing in many countries. Some of it is linked to alcohol and drug use. A possible explanation for this behaviour is the belief that there is widespread access to treatment, which makes AIDS a chronic disease instead of a deadly one. At the same time, health authorities do not spend enough on prevention and care for this group. Research indicates that less than one in twenty men who have sex with men currently have access to HIV prevention and care services. Factors that influence this are: denial by society, stigma and discrimination, and human rights abuse. Homophobia is one of the main obstacles to an effective HIV response.
Lack of awareness and information
Many men who have sex with men do not regard themselves as homosexuals and therefore rule themselves out of being exposed to HIV. Even among men who readily identify themselves as gay, bisexual or transgender, there is still a considerable lack of awareness of HIV and what constitutes sexual risk behaviour.
Responding to men who have sex with men could be a combination of:
- General and targeted promotion of condoms and water-based lubricants
- Safer sex campaigns and skill-training
- Peer education
- Outreach programmes
- Education of female partners of men who have sex with men
- Programmes to address subpopulations such as; police, military personnel, prisoners and male sex workers
