This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/8158469.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Alarming Africa male gay HIV rate | Alarming Africa male gay HIV rate |
| (about 23 hours later) | |
| HIV rates among gay men in some African countries are 10 times higher than among the general male population, says research in medical journal the Lancet. | HIV rates among gay men in some African countries are 10 times higher than among the general male population, says research in medical journal the Lancet. |
| The report said prejudice towards gay people was leading to isolation and harassment, which in turn led to risky sexual practices among gay communities. | The report said prejudice towards gay people was leading to isolation and harassment, which in turn led to risky sexual practices among gay communities. |
| But the risks are not limited to gay men, as many of the infected also have female sexual partners. | But the risks are not limited to gay men, as many of the infected also have female sexual partners. |
| The report called for greater education and resources in the fight against HIV. | The report called for greater education and resources in the fight against HIV. |
| The Oxford University researchers found that the prevalence of HIV/Aids among gay men in sub-Saharan African has been "driven by cultural, religious and political unwillingness to accept [gay men] as equal members of society". | The Oxford University researchers found that the prevalence of HIV/Aids among gay men in sub-Saharan African has been "driven by cultural, religious and political unwillingness to accept [gay men] as equal members of society". |
| Lead researcher Adrian Smith told the BBC there was "profound stigma and social hostility at every level of society concerning either same-sex behaviours amongst men, or homosexuality". | Lead researcher Adrian Smith told the BBC there was "profound stigma and social hostility at every level of society concerning either same-sex behaviours amongst men, or homosexuality". |
| "This has the consequence that this group becomes extremely hard to reach," he said. | "This has the consequence that this group becomes extremely hard to reach," he said. |
| Mr Smith said that gay male sex had always been acknowledged as being particularly dangerous in terms of contracting HIV/Aids. | Mr Smith said that gay male sex had always been acknowledged as being particularly dangerous in terms of contracting HIV/Aids. |
| But gay men were also more likely to be involved in other high-risk behaviours, including sex work, having multiple partners and being in contact with intravenous drug use, he said. | But gay men were also more likely to be involved in other high-risk behaviours, including sex work, having multiple partners and being in contact with intravenous drug use, he said. |
| Education crucial | Education crucial |
| George Kanuma, a gay rights activist in Burundi, told the BBC many men "hide their sexual orientation" to get married and have children, but continue to have sex with men. | George Kanuma, a gay rights activist in Burundi, told the BBC many men "hide their sexual orientation" to get married and have children, but continue to have sex with men. |
| "Most of them know that you can contract HIV/Aids or any infection when you are making sex with women, but not when you are having sex with another man," he said. | "Most of them know that you can contract HIV/Aids or any infection when you are making sex with women, but not when you are having sex with another man," he said. |
| Mr Smith said there was "a desperate need for delivering a basic package of prevention for HIV", including ensuring supplies of condoms. | Mr Smith said there was "a desperate need for delivering a basic package of prevention for HIV", including ensuring supplies of condoms. |
| "There is also a need to sensitise, educate and train those involved in HIV, the interface with men who have sex with men, to educate those involved in care and prevention activities," he said. | "There is also a need to sensitise, educate and train those involved in HIV, the interface with men who have sex with men, to educate those involved in care and prevention activities," he said. |
| The United Nations Aids agency estimates that 33 million people in the world have HIV, of whom two-thirds live in sub-Saharan Africa. | The United Nations Aids agency estimates that 33 million people in the world have HIV, of whom two-thirds live in sub-Saharan Africa. |
| Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Do you live in sub-Saharan Africa and do you think there is a problem? What should be done to try and halt the rising number of HIV rates in this region? Share your thoughts by filling in the form below. | |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |