MSM Calls For HIV

By Suparna Chakaraborthy

Monday, March 29, 2010, 15:29

Africa and Asia are recently witnessing rise of HIV/STD disease among 'men who have sex with men" (MSM).

A study points at the fact that increasing HIV/STD disease is being reported in MSM with high risk behaviours in Africa and Asia.

The risk is highest among MSM in Nanjing, China. Scientists are still studying the reason for the rise of this disease among this crowd.

Using respondent-driven sampling methods, scientists report an HIV incidence rate of 5.12 cases per 100 person years.

They stressed that in recent years, China has considered “MSM as a priority population for HIV prevention and control."

However, Dr. Mayer and his colleagues believe that MSM exists in all populations.

They stress that thinking HIV epidemic that affects MSM in industrialized countries and is a heterosexual epidemic in developing or less developed countries is not valid.

They also recognize high prevalence of HIV/STD in some MSM populations in Africa and Asia, and emphasize the need to act now to prevent the massive spread of disease.