June 27, 2008

HIV/AIDS Diagnoses Rise Among Young Black MSM

According to a report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV and AIDS diagnoses rose significantly in young men who have sex with men (MSM) between 2001 and 2006, particularly African-American men, The New York Times reports (nytimes.com 6/27).

The report showed that new HIV/AIDS diagnoses among MSM had an annual increase of 12.4 percent, compared to a 1.5-percent annual increase for men overall. Among African-American MSMs, the annual increase was around 15 percent.

The report also found that diagnoses among injection drug users declined by 9.5 percent over that time period, and new HIV infections attributed to high-risk heterosexual contact fell by 4.4 percent.

“It's a grim report,” said Dr. Ronald Stall, an epidemiologist and professor of public health at the University of Pittsburgh. “It means roughly speaking that about half of the American AIDS epidemic is occurring among a few percent of the adult population. And the terrible trends we're seeing among white gay men are even amplified further among minority men.”

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Previous Comments:

Michael, , 2008-07-27 18:58:45
I don't have much faith in "faith-based" ANYTHING, particularly AIDS Education. Generally Faith-based means Abstinence-only, anti-Gay messages.

F.J.B, San Francisco, 2008-07-03 12:44:49
There are so many challenges to face; homophobia internalized and community wide, lack of GBM testing or having conversations around pleasure and risk, the abandonment of condoms, internet delivery sex, common use of drug use and alcohol and NASA, we have a problem. It's time for change within our community rather than from the govt or agencies. Things cannot continue at this pace or can it?

John Sterling, , 2008-07-01 11:38:42
I think people like myself need to get involved an reachout to the to the young man men out they. I been positive for 18 yrs and it getting worse. I think some young man think they can't getting because there are not GAY. They still think is a gay men ,drug issue. Now the internet is here that the big problem to attact on die the fact the men online mostly had the diease and try to get with young men. So if someone wake up and look at this interneb chat room and ask AOL Yahooto charge fees

Greg747, Patchogue, NY, 2008-07-01 10:43:11
Breathtaking. Shocking. What incisive news reporting! Any other statements of the obvious coming forth? Looks like we Gay men have totally dropped the ball and we're going to pay the price. And now Obama wants to give more money to religious groups that already hate us. My prediction, even higher HIV prevalance in the Gay community both Black and White and Latino and all men!