January 21, 2009

Study: Term “On the Down Low” Could Harm HIV Prevention for Black Men

The use of the term “on the down low” in HIV prevention strategies may weaken efforts to understand the nature of HIV risk among African-American men, aidsmap.com reports. In the United States, HIV infection rates are seven times higher among African-American men than they are for white men.

The description is used to describe black men who identify as heterosexual and secretly have sex with other men. Researchers believe the phrase can cast a negative light on the behavior as an issue unique to black men.

In a study published in the January 2009 issue of Social Science and Medicine, researchers say they believe that one of the problems with outsiders—such as public health professionals—using the terminology is the term is used as a simple label, without understanding the social, cultural and historical factors that drive behavior.

According to the article, the authors of the study emphasize the importance of poverty, racism and social inequality to the HIV epidemic, and they note that few HIV prevention interventions address these topics. Moreover, researchers write that tailoring interventions to fit men on the down low “conforms to a narrow, individual-level approach to HIV prevention.”

Search: down low, black men, MSM, prevention

Scroll down to comment on this story.

Previous Comments:

Jeff Richard, Portland, OR, 2009-01-27 17:20:28
I am afraid the authors are falling into a political correctness trap here. I agree that this term should be used carefully (and without value judgements), by people who understand the full context of what it means. It is a good thing to reach out to isolated segments of society. We need to reach everyone, and especially those at high risk. The problem with not using this term is how else do we reach out to them? What term would work better? I didn't see any suggestions here at all.

Greg747, Patchogue, NY, 2009-01-22 12:03:27
I dislike being proven right, and as fatuous as that sounds, I have been on a tirade for too damn long against the implied and explicit homophobia in the so-called AIDS world. For too damn long we have accepted the term msm. MSM is demeaning and illogical. Unless we start an honoest dialogue about GAY men, HIV will continue its deadly march because we don't exist; we are only a category that was simply made up. Anyone else up to my challenge to DUMP the term MSM?