First Ever HIV Study Of Vancouver Gay And Bisexual Men Yields Encouraging Results

ManCount, a new study, the first ever to examine the rate of HIV infection among gay men in Vancouver, British Columbia, finds that a majority of those surveyed are practicing prevention though regular condom use and HIV testing, reports the Province. The study was conducted August, 2008 to February, 2009, researchers asking 3,324 men over the age of 19 to participate, 1,169 completing the survey, 1,139 offered blood samples, the project funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada. Among the findings, 86-percent of gay and bisexual men had been tested for HIV, 77-percent of those under the age of 30 had been tested. 18-percent of those surveyed tested positive for HIV, and of that number 70-percent were regularly taking medication known as the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy. 2.5-percent of those who supplied blood samples reported that they were not HIV positive, although blood test determined they were. Wayne Roberts, of the Vancouver-based Health Initiative for Men, who participated in the study, said that the findings regarding regular prevention strategies were encouraging, but that awareness among young men needs to be increased.