UK report: Troubling Signs for HIV Infection Rates?

According to information released this week in the U.K. by The Health Protection Agency, the rate of HIV infection is rising among gay men as a percentage of overall HIV infections.  

For some time now, lots of people -- including myself -- have pointed out that since the development of the HIV drug "cocktails" almost a decade and a half ago, unsafe sex among gay men (especially among younger gay men) is on the increase. I have postulated that this is at least in part due to a misconception that the cocktail, and other great advances in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, has led younger gay men to believe that the disease is “under control” -- that “if I get it, I’ll just take the cocktail, and that will be that." Basically, the young people in our community started believing that HIV had been transformed into a condition on the level of diabetes: not a good thing, but not life threatening, and totally manageable through easily available treatments. We didn't think of HIV as anything that would reshape, let alone drastically shorten, one’s life.

Not a good way to think about HIV/AIDS.

And, while I think that this type of thinking (which I have personally experienced by the boatload as an HIV/AIDS educator for kids and teens in Chicago) is part of what’s behind the numbers in today’s release, I also think that the breakdown in the emphasis, energy and importance placed on teaching safer sex, specifically condom use, to younger people is equally to blame. Today’s report points out -- correctly -- that “safe sex is the best way to protect against HIV infection.”

Now, to get a little more granular on these numbers: The study referenced in the report points out, correctly, that while the percentage of new HIV infections is larger among gay men than it has been in years, the overall rate of infection among gay men is still declining (slightly), as is the overall rate of HIV infection in the general population. In a nutshell, this all means that while the overall message of safer behavior around HIV infection seems to be growing generally, gay men as a group seem to be slowing down in the acceptance and practice of this message.

Today’s news is troubling (especially because until recently the rate of HIV infection among gay men had been dropping), but this new information should not be wholly unexpected. Want to reverse this trend?  Then get on the soapbox and start delivering your own message about safe sex. 

(Image courtesy of Getty)

Comments

[Rob]

Its not only in England, its In Holland to, My thoughts are a lot of HIV+ guys chat about how great it is, to have unprotected sex. I have been open about my HIV status in the chats. Lots of guys ask me to please just give it to them. And I let them read my story on my website. What its like to have HIV. 4 cancer diagnoses in two years. So I started a small offencive in Holland. Because its time to start doing something about this. And could do with some help.

[Hugo]

We need to get the message across that having HIV/AIDS is not ok to have, I wanna live life to the full not ending up with only ten years to live. People think that safe-sex kills the mood but there are ways of having great protective sex. I think not enough is being done to raise the awareness of this problem plus there are still lots of other diseases around like chlamydia and gonorrhea etc. I know a lot of people would say oh I won't catch anything, I'll be ok but research shows that there is a decent percentage of the public getting STD's.

SAFE-SEX EVERYONE :)

[philippe]

I wish you would post this info in mexico where they think it's 'cool' having unprotected sex...like it's all over!but in Spanish of course

[Marc]

This is something that I have actually noticed while randomly looking on dating websites or even at facebook groups: more young people seem to think that having unprotected sex feels good enough to take such a risk.
I'm not sure that they understand the full implications of being HIV+...

By the way rob, way to go!

[Diagnosed HIV Positive]

I have just checked this website and I have found it to be very useful and informative. It is very disappointing that HIV percentage among gay men is rising than ever before. It has not started all of a sudden. I think over time people are like bored of hearing about the risks of HIV, have safe sex etc. They now want to wander the new horizons and so they are trying to do it by having having unprotected sex. It also gives a feeling of freedom.

[Women Looking for Men]

I have a gay son with HIV and feel so sorry for him

[Malignant Melanoma]

It is logical that the highest rate of sexual transmission among young people because they are experiencing and knowing new things and are more impulsive

[Buy Viagra]

If you're gay or not, it isn't matter but you always have to visit your doctor to take a control of your health every month.

[Migraine Remedies]

I desagree because you don't say anything about the husband's blame that
spreads their wives.

[lili]

I disagree too....