Men who have sex with men
Resources
Chris Beyrer, Gift Trapence, Felistus Motimedi, Eric Umar, Scholastika Iipinge, Friedel Dausab, Stefan Baral
Bisexual concurrency, bisexual partnerships, and HIV among Southern African men who have sex with men (MSM). Sex Transm Infect published online April 21, 2010
The majority of MSM in this study report some bisexual partnerships in the previous 6 months. Concurrency with sexual partners of both genders is common. Encouragingly, men reporting any concurrent bisexual activity were more likely to report condom use with sexual partners, and these men were not more likely to have HIV infection than men reporting only male partners. HIV-prevention programmes focussing on decreasing concurrent sexual partners in the African
context should also target bisexual concurrency among MSM. Decriminalisation of same-sex practices will potentiate evidence-based HIV-prevention programmes targeting MSM.
Stefan Baral, Gift Trapence, Felistus Motimedi, Eric Umar, Scholastika Iipinge, Friedel Dausab, and Chris Beyrer. PLoS One March 2009, Volume 4, Issue 3
HIV Prevalence, Risks for HIV Infection, and Human Rights among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) in Malawi, Namibia, and Botswana
This study found that HIV prevalence among those between the ages of 18 and 23 was 8.3%; 20.0% among those 24-29; and 35.7% among those older than 30 for an overall prevalence of 17.4%. Sexual concurrency was common with 16.6% having ongoing concurrent stable relationships with a man and a woman and 53.7% had both male and female sexual partners in proceeding 6 months. Unprotected anal intercourse was common and the use of petroleum-based lubricants was also common when using condoms. Human rights abuses, including blackmail and denial of housing and health care was prevalent with 42.1% reporting at least one abuse.
International Alliance for HIV/AIDS
Responding to the HIV-related needs of MSM in Africa. A guide to faciitating a consultation workshop with stakeholders. December 2009
This guide has been produced for people who want to improve the response to the HIV-related needs of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Africa. The guide will help you to facilitate a participatory refl ection meeting with key stakeholders who are responsible for improving local and national responses to HIV among MSM.
The guide provides a set of activities for you to be able to facilitate this meeting together with basic information to increase understanding about MSM and, in particular, MSM and the HIV epidemic.
International Dialogue
Securing the voice of African men who have sex with men within HIV and AIDS development policy and programming in Eastern and Southern Africa. November 2009
Under the auspices of UNDP and the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), a group of researchers, policy makers and members of civil society groupings working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) groups gathered outside Pretoria, South Africa to discuss the issues of HIV prevention, advocacy and research with regards to men who have sex with men (MSM) in Eastern and Southern Africa.
Led by professors Vasu Reddy and Theo Sandfort, the International Dialogue is part of a larger project aimed at addressing the gap in HIV prevention, advocacy and research with regards to MSM in Eastern and Southern Africa and identify strategies that would strengthen collaborative work and promote the inclusion of MSM in programme and policy responses to HIV.
UNAIDS
Action Framework. Universal Access for men who have sex with men and transgender people. May 2009
This framework provides direction for enhanced action by the UNAIDS Secretariat and UNAIDS Cosponsors on male-to-male sex, transgender issues and HIV.
The goal of this framework is to enable UNAIDS to facilitate and support the achievement of universal access to appropriate HIV prevention, care, treatment and support for men who have sex with men and transgender people. The UNAIDS Secretariat and the UNAIDS Cosponsors recognize that universal access to appropriate HIV programmes for men who have sex with men and transgender people is a crucial part of achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support as a whole.
International Dialogue
Key papers on men who have sex with men in Eastern and Southern Africa. November 2009
An annotated bibliography of the most recent resources on men who have sex with men in Eastern and Southern Africa. This reference document was produced for the meeting 'Securing the voice of African men who have sex with men within HIV and AIDS development policy and programming in Eastern and Southern Africa' that took place in Pretoria, South Africa, from 13 to 15 November 2009.
Adrian D Smith, Placide Tapsoba, Norbert Peshu, Eduard J Sanders, Harold W Jaffe
Men who have sex with men and HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa. July 2009
The results from recent studies, however, indicate the widespread existence of MSM groups across Africa, and high rates of HIV infection, HIV risk behaviour, and evidence of behavioural links between MSM and heterosexual networks have been reported. Yet most African MSM have no safe access to relevant HIV/AIDS information and services, and many African states have not begun to recognise or address the needs of these men in the context of national HIV/AIDS prevention and control programmes.
The HIV/AIDS community now has considerable challenges in clarifying and addressing the needs of MSM in sub-Saharan Africa; homosexuality is illegal in most countries, and political and social hostility are endemic. An effective response to HIV/AIDS requires improved strategic information about all risk groups, including MSM. The belated response to MSM with HIV infection needs rapid and sustained national and international commitment to the
development of appropriate interventions and action to reduce structural and social barriers to make these accessible.
The aim of this presentation is to help identify funding resources for MSM-specific programmes and services, including tools that LGBT groups and researchers alike can use when developing funding strategies.
AmfAR
Men who have sex with men, HIV and the road to universal access. How far have we come? 2008
Two years from the target date, the question arises: on the road to universal access, how far have we come and how distant is that goal? This is especially relevant for MSM-one of the most marginalized and neglected populations in the context of HIV and AIDS.
A report from a meeting held on 15-17 September 2008 in Geneva, which brought together participants from the World Health Organization (WHO) and its United Nations (UN) partners along with representatives from 26 countries to discuss the role that the health sector can and should play in addressing prevention, treatment and care of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among MSM, transgender people and their sexual partners.
A. Cloete, L.C. Simbayi, S.C. Kalichman, A. Strebel and N. Henda. AIDS Care. Vol. 20, No. 9, October 2008, 1105-1110
Stigma and discrimination experiences of HIV-positive men who have sex with men in Cape Town, South Africa
The current study examined the stigma and discrimination experiences of MSM living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Anonymous venue-based surveys were collected from 92 HIV-positive MSM and 330 HIV-positive men who only reported sex with women (MSW). Internalised stigma was high among all HIV-positive men who took part in the survey, with 56% of men reporting that they concealed their HIV status from others. HIV-positive MSM reported experiencing greater social isolation and discrimination resulting from being HIV-positive, including loss of housing or employment due to their HIV status, however these differences were not significant. Mental health interventions, as well as structural changes for protection against discrimination, are needed for HIV-positive South African MSM.
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)
Off the map. How HIV and AIDS programming is failing same sex practicing people in Africa. 2007
Off the Map explores the ways in which governments, donors, and NGOs are denying a basic set of human rights protections to same-sex practicing Africans, and the potential impact of this denial on efforts to combat the AIDS epidemic. The report attempts to compare the actions and policies of different African countries while at times making a number of necessary generalizations about same-sex practicing people, AIDS, and government response across the continent.
Research for this report was conducted over the course of one year and makes use of face-to-face interviews with leaders of African LGBT organizations, other same-sex practicing people, international aid officials, AIDS project managers, and health care providers.
UNAIDS
HIV and sex between men
Sex between men occurs in every culture and society, though its extent and public acknowledgement vary from place to place.1 In terms of HIV, sex between men is significant because it can involve anal sex, which when unprotected carries a very high risk.2 At least 5-10% of HIV infections worldwide are estimated to occur through sex between men, though this figure varies considerably between countries and regions.
Useful websites
The website of the Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF). The forum was launched during the XVI International AIDS Conference held in Toronto, Canada in August 2006 by a group of organisations from around the world. The mission of the MSMGF is to advocate for equitable access to effective HIV prevention, care, and treatment services tailored to the needs of gay men and other men who have sex with men, while promoting their health and human rights worldwide
The website of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, a leading international organization dedicated to human rights advocacy on behalf of people who experience discrimination or abuse on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.