“In several U.S. urban areas, the HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men is as high as 30%—as compared with a general-population prevalence of 7.8% in Kenya and 16.9% in South Africa.” Well isn’t that quite the sobering statistic, New England Journal of Medicine? For all this talk about circumcision cutting down on AIDS rates in African nations, the problem right here at home is staggering. But at least researchers are going after a solution in a “new” way, where air quotes represent our cynicism.
By focusing on a person’s social network as a greater indicator of HIV infection risk, rather than just the way a person has sex, relays Newsweek.
What’s interesting is that the research shows that a person’s sexual network, more than just his or her lifestyle choices, defines the risk of getting HIV in America. So, black and Hispanic women are at increased risk due to the instability of their sexual relationships —which is attributed to the high rate of incarceration of men in their networks—and their vulnerable or dependent economic situation, which may cause them to be fearful of suggesting safer-sex options to their companions. And black men who have sex with men are at high risk because of the likelihood of their choosing to engage in sexual activity with someone who is racially similar, and because of the prevalence of HIV within their sexual networks.
The methodology is easily transportable. Middle-aged white men who engage in group bareback sex with other middle-aged white men might be at greater risk, because they are all engaged in group bareback sex. Sorry, is this really a new way of thinking about transmission?
Gridlock
I see Captain Obvious got his research grant.
B
No. 1 · Gridlock wrote, “I see Captain Obvious got his research grant.” … the New England Journal of Medicine article was labeled “Perspective”, so it basically a comment, not medical research per se. As is usually the case, the summary in the popular media is an oversimplification. To illustrate that, here’s a quote from the New England Journal of Medicine article that QUEERTY linked to:
“Most glaringly, HIV disproportionately affects poor black Americans who have substandard education, unstable housing, and limited social mobility. This confluence of factors may result in high rates of incarceration, which threaten a community’s social fabric. Such vulnerable populations must be engaged in research, program development, and interventions that are culturally relevant and address the socioeconomic milieu in which HIV transmission occurs.
“Preventive interventions must be rooted in science, not driven by ideological concerns. Homophobia may have impeded the development of sexually appropriate prevention studies among men who have sex with men. Reluctance to fund studies of needle exchange or conditional cash transfer (providing financial incentives for healthy behavior) or to support work in high-risk venues, such as bathhouses, has hampered progress. Cash transfer has proved effective in achieving desirable health outcomes, including weight control, smoking cessation, and decreased use of crystal methamphetamine, but until recently it was not being studied for use in HIV prevention in the United States.
“What will it take to control the U.S. HIV epidemic? First, there is an urgent need to acknowledge that HIV remains a major health threat in the United States. Second, concerted effort and substantial resource investment — especially in innovative and courageous approaches — are necessary. Focused studies of the sociocultural dynamics that facilitate transmission are needed, as well as large studies assessing the effectiveness of multidimensional interventions, including behavioral, biomedical, and structural components. Disenfranchised communities must be engaged as partners in such efforts, along with new researchers drawn from the affected populations, if the nuances of local epidemics are to be addressed. The time has come to confront this largely forgotten and hidden epidemic.”
Gridlock
… I see Captain Obvious also found the internet.
greg_c
The quote in the article sounds more like a condemnation of black and hispanic women due to a perceived lack of control in their circumstances. That’s simply too narrow. Multiple forces, which are hinted at, are at work. Taking in to consideration the longer part quoted by “B,” I hear the same thing that has been said repeatedly by activists since the ’80s. I think it is also worth noting how “social network” has developed a very different common meaning than is meant here. I’m not a frequent reader of Newsweek or the New England Journal of Medicine, so thanks for the post. Now I think I will go read both articles.
B
No. 4 · greg_c wrote, “The quote in the article sounds more like a condemnation of black and hispanic women due to a perceived lack of control in their circumstances.” … I think it was intended as a condemnation of societal attitudes that stop people from pursuing effective options due to prejudices of various sorts. Disadvantages resulting from discrimination can linger for quite a few decades after discrimination is “officially” outlawed, and policies that ignore that are not going to work as well as they might if we were more realistic.
Keep in mind too that the article was written for medical professionals. They can’t always do what they think is best – its politicians who set the funding.
houseofnumbers
View the new documentary “House of Numbers” to see why questions about this must be raised and deeper issues about HIV and AIDS need to be discussed. Lives are at risk, and this is the first documentary with the worlds foremost authorities highlights the scientific problems with HIV testing, science, statistics, and why there is no cure. If sheds new light on a misunderstood phenomena. GO to http://houseofnumbers.com/ to see the trailer.
Truth about AIDS as told by Dr. Luc Montagnier. AIDS can be reversed. Nutrition is the answer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKyIBYKoT20
houseofnumbers
View the new documentary “House of Numbers” to see why questions about this must be raised and deeper issues about HIV and AIDS need to be discussed. Lives are at risk, and this is the first documentary with the worlds foremost authorities highlights the scientific problems with HIV testing, science, statistics, and why there is no cure. If sheds new light on a misunderstood phenomena. GO to http://bit.ly/bGwuST to see the trailer.
Truth about AIDS as told by Dr. Luc Montagnier. AIDS can be reversed. Nutrition is the answer. http://bit.ly/bGwuST