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Hi Peter, I'd like to offer another scenario and that is that MSMs are again being overwhelmed with the, "Your life is unimportant" mentality prevalent in the beginning of the epidemic. Having lived through the first round of deaths, when you are barraged everyday with the idea that to be Gay is to be all about unfulfilling sex and never about a supported or supportive relationship, it becomes an easy step to not care about yourself any more. While this may not be true for all Gay people, it can be argued that for the most part, little has changed from the early 80s until now as regards nurturing LTRs among gay men from society at large. Of course this is all speculation but it makes you wonder what effect equality in our personal partnerships might have upon our health.
The infection rates of 13-25 year old MSM has risen at least 2% in Michigan for the last 3 years. This may be due to: 1.) this group did not see the many deaths of friends and loved one that 40-60 year old gay men saw in the late 80's and early 90's 2.)thqt 13-25 year olds think that it is a manageable disease due to the slick marketing of the big pharmaceuticals 3.) the failed policy of George W Bush and his cronies "abstinence only" sex education 4.) CDC, NIH, and Congressional limits on funding for explicit safe sex materials and education 5.)safe sex, condom fatigue 6.) and still the stigma of HIV/AIDS and our inability in the USA to discuss HIV without religious condemnation.
Since the introduction of HAART, the notion that HIV is a manageable disease and is only a pill, or a few, a day has become increasingly widespread. I find it interesting, however, that the rise in new infections amongst msm started prior to the introduction of HAART in 1996. And, that HIV infection rates in other groups have fallen. The graph seems to suggest that the rise in infection rates for msm is not connected to the introduction of HAART and the belief that HIV is manageable. The only thing I can put it down to is that men who have sex with men simply hate condoms. Condoms were initially a method of birth control. That they also protect against many STI's was, in a sense, a happy coincidence. Perhaps, in the mid to late 80's we were scared into using condoms as they watched their friends drop, one by one. Somewhere along the way, we just got sick of using them. But, I don't know why. I guess, the 'why' is the interesting question. An answer to the 'why' would assist greatly in the development of any new strategies to combat the rise in infections in msm.
confused
I wish these stats could be a lot more accessible and easier to understand for people researching for projects. They helped un petit bit, but not much at all, but this is one of the best sites I could find. sheesh
January 21, 2009