Research on men who have sex with men (MSM) in Africa has been limited, although this population is particularly vulnerable to HIV infection. The aidsmap article describes a study published in the June edition of AIDS, where researchers have estimated the number of MSM selling sex in and around the city of Mombasa, Kenya – a “sizeable population who urgently need to be targeted by HIV prevention strategies.”
Research and interventions in Africa have largely focused on the heterosexual spread of HIV. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are highly stigmatised and hard to reach. However, it is known that there are male sex workers, including those who sell sex to other men. An ongoing cohort study is investigating the number of MSM who sell sex in and around Mombasa. In this related report, public health researchers from Kenya, Nairobi and elsewhere estimated the total size of this population.
In an accompanying editorial, Frits van Griensven of the US Centers for Disease Control states, “the importance of this study does not so much pertain to the accuracy of the estimate, but more to the fact that the investigators were able to identify and enrol hundreds of MSM selling sex in the African country of Kenya.” This likely also points to a much larger MSM population overall, as “most MSM do not sell sex.” Both the study report and editorial stress that MSM in Africa represent a sizeable, highly stigmatised and vulnerable group for whom prevention strategies are urgently needed.
Note - search by title on AIDSPortal for link to related journal articles:
Geibel S et al. ‘Are you on the market?’: a capture-recapture enumeration of men who sell sex to men in and around Mombasa, Kenya. AIDS 21:1349-1354, 2007
Van Griensven F. Men who have sex with men and their HIV epidemics in Africa. AIDS 21:1361-1362, 2007.
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29 June 2007
