Ancalagon
09-28-2010, 10:49 PM
This is a rather alarming survey... I'm gob smacked by the 1/5 number
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/09/24/hiv-aids-gay-bisexual-cdc.html
One in five sexually active gay and bisexual men in the United States has the AIDS virus, and nearly half of those don't know they are infected, a new study suggests.
The study by the Kaiser Family Foundation — a research and policy organization in Washington, D.C. — is the largest look at gay and bisexual U.S. men at high risk for HIV, although experts said the findings are similar to earlier research.
More than 8,000 men in 21 U.S. cities were tested and interviewed. Forty-four per cent of those who had HIV didn't know they had it.
Overall, less than half of one per cent of Americans have the AIDS virus, according to a calculation by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
But gay and bisexual men continue to be infected at much higher rates, said Jennifer Kates, Kaiser's director of global health and HIV policy.
"We don't have a generalized epidemic in the United States. We have a concentrated epidemic among certain populations," she said.
Annual testing call
Kates said that's why a new national AIDS strategy, unveiled by the White House in July, is emphasizing more of a government focus on men who have sex with men and others at the highest risk of getting infected.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends HIV testing at least once a year for all men who have sex with men and are sexually active, but research indicates more than half don't get tested.
An earlier study in just five cities in 2004-05 found similar results.
The study released Friday, which was conducted in 2008, included 16 additional cities. Researchers offered free testing to the men, interviewed them and paid around $25 US for their participation.
In Canada, it is estimated that 20 to 30 per cent of people infected with HIV don't know they carry the virus, said Dr. Julio Montaner, director of the B.C. Centre of Excellence for HIV/AIDS in Vancouver.
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/09/24/hiv-aids-gay-bisexual-cdc.html
One in five sexually active gay and bisexual men in the United States has the AIDS virus, and nearly half of those don't know they are infected, a new study suggests.
The study by the Kaiser Family Foundation — a research and policy organization in Washington, D.C. — is the largest look at gay and bisexual U.S. men at high risk for HIV, although experts said the findings are similar to earlier research.
More than 8,000 men in 21 U.S. cities were tested and interviewed. Forty-four per cent of those who had HIV didn't know they had it.
Overall, less than half of one per cent of Americans have the AIDS virus, according to a calculation by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
But gay and bisexual men continue to be infected at much higher rates, said Jennifer Kates, Kaiser's director of global health and HIV policy.
"We don't have a generalized epidemic in the United States. We have a concentrated epidemic among certain populations," she said.
Annual testing call
Kates said that's why a new national AIDS strategy, unveiled by the White House in July, is emphasizing more of a government focus on men who have sex with men and others at the highest risk of getting infected.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends HIV testing at least once a year for all men who have sex with men and are sexually active, but research indicates more than half don't get tested.
An earlier study in just five cities in 2004-05 found similar results.
The study released Friday, which was conducted in 2008, included 16 additional cities. Researchers offered free testing to the men, interviewed them and paid around $25 US for their participation.
In Canada, it is estimated that 20 to 30 per cent of people infected with HIV don't know they carry the virus, said Dr. Julio Montaner, director of the B.C. Centre of Excellence for HIV/AIDS in Vancouver.