Gay pairs can lessen HIV threat

IF MEN in same-sex relationships could talk more honestly about additional sexual partners‚ they would be less at risk of contracting HIV.

This is one conclusion from the Human Sciences Research Council’s study‚ called Together Tomorrow‚ into South African and Namibian same-sex male couples.

Gay and bisexual men have a higher risk of contracting HIV through unprotected sex than straight people.

“Overseas data shows they usually get HIV within relationships‚” said Together Tomorrow project leader Zaynab Essack.

As a result‚ Essack explained that South African researchers‚ with the support of two US universities – the Gay and Lesbian Network and Namibian NGO Positive Vibes – did the firstever study on gay couples and HIV prevention in the region.

At first‚ researchers did indepth interviews with 27 couples‚ interviewing each person separately but at the same time‚ so that they could not plan their answers together.

They then interviewed 220 couples from Namibia and South Africa.

In the survey of 220 people‚ 78% of men reported being in monogamous relationships.

Essack said it was known overseas that some gay men have “explicit” agreements about having outside partners‚ and deciding how to use protection when choosing to have an additional partner.

This lowers their risk of HIV. But the study found that in South Africa and Namibia‚ when there was an explicit agreement between partners about having an extra person on the side‚ the extra partner was only allowed to be a woman.

This may be the case when a man publicly identifies as “straight” and has a wife or girlfriend‚ and a secret relationship with a male partner.

There is no national figure of HIV rates in gay and bisexual men‚ but small studies show a prevalence in gay men can vary from 10% to 50%‚ she said.

Only a third of those surveyed knew there was a preventative drug called Truvada that reduces the risk of contracting HIV by at least 90% if taken daily. — DDC