AIDS // Current

Why business individuals doesn't get about Health Care?

Do not make a mistake about it and we will never resolve this issue until people get to the conclusion that Health Care cannot be... more

stopnoise
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RH Reality Check: Do Condoms Work?

The religious right loves to spread the misinformation that condoms are ineffective. The CDC has tested latex condoms... more

amien
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L'Iran svela quanti malati di AIDS ha

Lunedì scorso l'Iran ha finalmente dichiarato quanti cittadini malati di HIV sono presenti nel paese: sarebbero... more

Szimpla
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L'importanza del cibo per chi ha l'AIDS

L'HIV può portare a malnutrizione e gli studi hanno dimostrato che l'avanzare della malattia può... more

Szimpla
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Documentary on AIDS activist headed for theatres

"Sex Positive," a documentary about an S&M hustler turned AIDS activism pioneer, has been picked up by Here Films. ... more

dirtyemowords
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World AIDS Day 2008: To Respect and Protect

Today, December 1st, is the 20th annual World AIDS Day, a day when individuals and organizations from around the world come... more

disembedded
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Test all patients over 13 for HIV

"Doctors should routinely offer all their patients over age 13 a blood test to screen for HIV, the American College of... more

DeliaTheArtist
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Report: Gay/bisexual men still bear brunt of AIDS

Gay and bisexual men in Massachusetts continue to be the hardest hit by the AIDS epidemic according to a new report by the state Department of Public Health, which recommends the state step up its fight against the disease including a greater availability free condoms.

The report, released just ahead of World AIDS Day on Monday, found while Massachusetts has had success battling the spread of the disease among injection drug users and heterosexual men and women, it has had less success among gay and bisexual men.

More than half of HIV infections between 2004 and 2006 were among gay and bisexual men even though just 4 to 9 percent of Massachusetts men report having sex with other men in annual surveys.

Among the encouraging signs in the study is the increase in reported condom use. Fifty-six percent of gay and bisexual men who responded to a 2005-06 health survey reported regular condom use, up from 36% in 2000.

The report urges the state do even more to encourage the use of condoms. Among the report’s recommendations is the "widespread free condom availability" to gay and bisexual men, including high-schoolers.

"Condoms save lives, so it is a good sign that we are seeing an increase in condom use," said DPH Commissioner John Auerbach. "However, it is clear given the data in this report that more needs to be done with respect to reaching men who have sex with men with important HIV prevention messages."

Besides greater availability of condoms, the report also recommends expanded availability of rapid HIV tests and routine screenings in hospital emergency rooms, community health centers, and private medical practices. The goal is to increase the number of people aware of their HIV status.

Despite successes treating those with the disease and controlling its spread, AIDS continues to be a significant health concern in Massachusetts.

As of May, 2008, 17,295 people reported living with HIV/AIDS in the state, with male-to-male sex the single biggest exposure to the disease. The proportion of gay and bisexual men living with HIV/AID was 25 times greater than among men who reported only having sex with female partners, the report found.

The report also found that while 68 percent of white men reported exposure to the disease through same-sex behavior, 25 percent of black men and 25 percent of Hispanic men reported same-sex exposure.

"The message of prevention is missing too many men in Massachusetts."
To better coordinate the fight against the disease, the health department will merge its existing HIV/AIDS Bureau with its Communicable Disease Control Bureau, in part to help patients at risk of multiple infections.Gay and bisexual men in Massachusetts continue to be the hardest hit by the AIDS epidemic according to a new report by the state... more