A call to action for comprehensive HIV services for men who have sex with men

Chris Beyrer, Patrick S. Sullivan, Jorge Sanchez, David Dowdy, Dennis Altman, Gift Trapence, Chris Collins, Elly Katabira, Michel Kazatchkine, Michel Sidibe, Kenneth H. Mayer

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

174 Scopus citations

Abstract

Where surveillance has been done, it has shown that men (MSM) who have sex with men bear a disproportionate burden of HIV. Yet they continue to be excluded, sometimes systematically, from HIV services because of stigma, discrimination, and criminalisation. This situation must change if global control of the HIV epidemic is to be achieved. On both public health and human rights grounds, expansion of HIV prevention, treatment, and care to MSM is an urgent imperative. Effective combination prevention and treatment approaches are feasible, and culturally competent care can be developed, even in rights-challenged environments. Condom and lubricant access for MSM globally is highly cost effective. Antiretroviral-based prevention, and antiretroviral access for MSM globally, would also be cost effective, but would probably require substantial reductions in drug costs in high-income countries to be feasible. To address HIV in MSM will take continued research, political will, structural reform, community engagement, and strategic planning and programming, but it can and must be done.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)424-438
Number of pages15
JournalThe Lancet
Volume380
Issue number9839
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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