Analysis of HIV Infection among Gay and Bisexual Men in the UK

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HEALTH ISSUES IN AGE, GENDER AND ETHNICITY
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Abstract
This report is associated with the analysis of the theoretical concepts on human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among the gay, bisexual men and others. The report illustrated
the main findings that are gained from six peered review journals along with a section of detail
comparison of the opinions and thought on this context. Moreover, discussion has been done on
the journals of HIV infections, causes, reason for identification of its diagnosis and preventive
measures for these groups of people in UK region in order to understand the loopholes.
Furthermore, recommendations such as use of undergoing HIV tests and gaining support from
different local as well as national organizations are mentioned in this study. Hence, in conclusion
of the study, brief discussion of the generated issues related to HIV among gay and bisexual
people are provided.
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Findings...........................................................................................................................................5
Discussion........................................................................................................................................8
Conclusion and recommendations...................................................................................................9
Reference list.................................................................................................................................11
Appendix........................................................................................................................................13
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Introduction
Understanding the health issues that occurs in males and females require an in-depth knowledge
of healthcare services and effective medication. The study will focus on the implications of
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on men living in UK. It has been found that HIV is a
virus, which attacks on the immune cells that ultimately reduces the ability of the body to combat
with the disease. The risk of HIV infection and it associated impact increases in men body that
ultimately lead to the occurrence of cancers and infections. Moreover, this is a life-long
infectious disease that does not have any proper cure. However, with effective treatment and
management of the disease can help in preventing HIV to reach to a severe level. Moreover, it
would also help in reducing the risk of passing of the virus to other person. This report will
discuss about this topic based on six peer-reviewed journals.
In first journal, Aghaizu et al. (2016) opined about HIV testing and sexual behaviour that are
required for eliminating the risk of this disease among men of London. On the other hand, the
second journal, Beyrer et al. (2016) has discussed about the global responses to HIV for the men
that are having sex with other men. The third journal is about the overview of HIV epidemic that
have sex with men in UK between years 1999-2013 (Desai et al., 2015). The fourth one is related
with the qualitative study conducted by exploring social media and other channels for
understanding the HIV infection level among men having sex with other men in south-east
England (Gourlay et al., 2017). On the contrary, the fifth one is involved with analysis of the
multiple data related to the contribution of HIV associated men having sex with men in the entire
England (Malek et al., 2015). From the last journal information about the causes of HIV
infection that are spread on gay and bisexual men in UK and Ireland are gained (Murphy et al.,
2018).
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Findings
Responses to HIV infection for the men having sex with men and its causes
Based on the analysis, it has been found that in global nation, about 69% of the men consisting of
gay, bisexual and have sex with other men are effected with HIV infection. Gay and bisexual
those who have sex has a chance of high burden of HIV infection in almost every countries.
Journal of Lancet series based on MSM and HIV has reviewed the unexpected growth of HIV
infection in countries such as China, Thailand, USA and UK. As opined by Beyrer et al. (2016),
policies and programme are arranged by government to develop a strategic plan for addressing
MSM and HIV. For example, US have developed AID relief plan (PEPFAR) through which
funds are collected for treating HIV infection. On the other hand, global funds are collected for
the people fighting with HIV from the public and private organization in order to address this
issue. As signified by Desai et al. (2015), between year 1999 and 2013, about 37,560 men were
diagnoses to have HIV infection. It has been observed that in gay and other men the probability
of occurrence of HIV infection is high. Statistic shows that about 492000 gay and men those are
sexually active are at high risk of HIV infection.
Figure 1: Data related to HIV affected men, gay and bisexual based on age and ethnicity
(Source: cdc.gov, 2019)
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Based on the journal of Emlet et al. (2017), it has been found that proportion of gay and bisexual
men having HIV is much higher than any other groups in UK and US reason. Hence, the chances
among these groups to HIV are more. Moreover, I among 6 gays are unaware of HIV are hence,
they are cannot take any precautions and medications for staying healthy and for preventing
transmission of HIV to the partners. On the contrary, Gourlay et al. (2017) asserted with the fact
that having anal sex without using condoms and medicines gets HIV in their body. Anal sex is
the type of sex that creates risky situation and make available for the virus to enter in the body.
However, local health department and CDC funds state are trying to deliver effective prevention
to HIV infection mainly to bisexual and gay. For instance, CDC is found to pay about $400
million to the health department per year for developing preventive measures and surveillance
efforts. Campaigns such as Stop HIV and Act against AIDS are conducted for making bisexual
and gay men concern about the treatment process.
Analysis of the men at risk due to transmission of HIV virus
In UK, it is found that men are having sex with other men without undergoing HIV tests and
checking the sexual behaviour. Based on the statistics of UK, high UAI partner having MSM are
found to be a great risk in transmission of HIV due to irregular sex practice done by men. The
factor such as negative attitude towards the homosexuality puts gay and other men at risk. This is
because this attitude discourages them to be tested for HIV. Malek et al. (2015) opined that PrEP
is the HIV prevention process for the men those are having risk of getting HIV infection. PrEP
should be considered for them those are not having infection in their body and are going on a
sexual relation with a HIV+ partner. Aghaizu et al. (2016) has recommended that HIV testing
should be done once in every year for the gay and bisexual men. Moreover, protection can be
gained from HIV by taking medicines such as antiretroviral therapy and ART regularly. ART is
not used for curing of HIV infection; however, it is used for reducing the viral load of the person
to an unrecognizable level. Moreover, indulging with different sex partners is another reason for
having Aids as risk of HIV transmission becomes high. This study has also signified that sex and
receptive are the riskiest type through which this virus enters easily. On the contrary, Aghaizu et
al. (2016) presented that having more partners’ means; men will have poor control over HIV that
would ultimately increase the risk of aids and HIV transmission. Hence, it has been said that men
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need to go through different medical tests and analyse the sexual behaviour before going in a
sexual relationship.
Analysis of population of men associated with sexual transmitted infection in UK
In UK, it has been found that western countries are associated with HIV epidemics and
considered that sex among men is the essential mode for indulging with HIV transmission. In
between year 1999-2013, it is found that 37,560 new HIV diagnoses were there. On the other
hand, by the end of 2015, 1122900 people were found to be HIV-positive (Tht.org.uk, 2019).
Biomedical tools can be used for the treatment of people having these infectors. Based on the
report of CDC, $55 million were provided to community based organization for reducing the
impact of HIV. Despite of this, Gourlay et al. (2017) commented that funding local organization
can be another powerful way for preventing the risk of HIV. In UK, London and Ireland are
having highest rate of HIV infection. Among 4363 people that were diagnose in 2017 for HIV,
53% of them were found to be gay and bisexual men. This indicates that these specific groups of
people need to understand the tests and preventive measures that should be taken for dealing
with this health issue. HIV testing is found to be available at different settings. Laboratories that
participated in SSBBV (Sentinel Surveillance of Blood Borne Viruses) showed that among
70,215 people tested for this infection, 0.7% respondent was found to be positive. The tests were
done in online basis in the community setting of UK to understand the effect of HIV virus in UK.
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Discussion
From the report of World health organization (WHO), information received that about 36.9
million people in entire world with HIV. Most of the affected areas with this disease are Africa,
south-east Asia, America and Europe. There has been continuous declination in the diagnoses of
HIV among bisexual and gay from the year 2017. Furthermore, it has been found that this
declination is mainly in London along with south England, East England and other places of
Ireland. From the discussed journals, the common thing that is found is use of condoms and PrEP
(Pre-exposure prophylaxis) that would help in preventing the occurrence of the disease to a great
extent. Moreover, these journals demonstrate that HIV testing policies that are prepared by
different regions of UK such as England and Ireland encourage the community setting for
mitigating the negative consequences of these infections. However, the discussed journals failed
to shows certain points such as HIV care, comprehensive surveillance, and patient-centric care
that are needed for developing the care plan for Aids. The tests that should be done for
understanding the affect of HIV in bodies are not explained in detailed manner. On the contrary,
another study, Emlet et al. (2017) has shown the tests that should be done for detecting HIV such
as blood tests, antibody screening tests and RNA test. These tests ensure the level of HIV
infection in the body that enables in understanding the preventive measures that are requires for
eliminating the infection level in the body.
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Conclusion and recommendations
Recommendations for handling the issues of HIV and related problems among men having sex
with other men are mentioned below:
 Bisexual men and gay are advised to undergo effective test if they are having sex without
using condoms in at least once in a year. Moreover, test should be done by them even if
they undergo from sex with a random partners. In this case, HIV care providers should
continuously monitor the clinical indicators mainly the people between 15-24 years of
age for maintaining the standards of healthy lifestyle. This would help in the improving
of clinical outcomes effectively.
 Discussion should be done to enhance the public health benefits and individual who will
help in proper diagnose of the disease.
 The care setting should adopt long-term condition care frameworks in order to manage
the HIV for enhancing the holistic requirements of the HIV care users. The focus of the
healthcare providers should be on the improvement of lives by incorporating self-
management and person-centric principles.
 These patients should be supported with comprehensive surveillance in a systematic
manner by collecting high quality HIV data on public for monitoring the progress
towards the decline of HIV in UK region.
 Screening tests followed by ELISA tests and blood tests should be conducted by the
bisexual and gay those are having sex. For instance, black African men those are
heterosexual and the countries where HIV is common should under thought these tests.
Moreover, anyone those are diagnosed with HIV need to accept all clinical suggestions
when the treatment starts. STI screen should be done for analysing the presence of HIV
virus in the body.
From the entire study, it has been found that HIV virus is highly spreading in regions of UK and
other African countries that need to be prevented by developing the mentioned
recommendations. This study has analysed different issues related to the HIV infection that
occurs mainly among gay, bisexual and other man due to sexual transmission and others. The
key message that can be provided to prevent this issue are maintain an effective medical
treatment process and care standard for eradicating and decline the level of this disease.
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Moreover, the discussed group of people should be encouraged so that they visit the care setting
for undergoing HIV tests for examining the body effectively. Additionally, it has been found that
the number of men having sex with other men is mostly affected with this infection due to not
using of condoms and in taking of effective medicine while doing anal sex and other sexual
activities. Hence, in conclusion, it can be said that government and other HIV practitioners
should encourage these groups for taking preventive measures for reducing the infection.
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Reference list
Aghaizu, A., Wayal, S., Nardone, A., Parsons, V., Copas, A., Mercey, D., Hart, G., Gilson, R.
and Johnson, A. (2016). Sexual behaviours, HIV testing, and the proportion of men at risk of
transmitting and acquiring HIV in London, UK, 2000–13: a serial cross-sectional study. The
Lancet HIV, [online] 3(9), p.431-e440. Available at: http://0-
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Mar. 2019].
Beyrer, C., Baral, S., Collins, C., Richardson, E., Sullivan, P., Sanchez, J., Trapence, G.,
Katabira, E., Kazatchkine, M., Ryan, O., Wirtz, A. and Mayer, K. (2016). The global response to
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mnh&AN=27411880&authtype=shib&site=eds-live&scope=site [Accessed 19 Mar. 2019].
Cdc.gov. (2019). HIV and Gay and Bisexual Men | HIV by Group | HIV/AIDS | CDC. [online]
Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/msm/index.html [Accessed 8 May 2019].
Desai, S., Croxford, S., Brown, A., Mitchell, H., Hughes, G. and Delpech, V. (2015). An
overview of the HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men in the United Kingdom,
1999–2013. Eurosurveillance, [online] 20(14), p.21086. Available at: http://0-
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cmedm&AN=25884147&authtype=shib&site=eds-live&scope=site (Accessed: 19 March 2019)
[Accessed 19 Mar. 2019].
Emlet, C.A., Shiu, C., Kim, H.J. and Fredriksen-Goldsen, K., 2017. Bouncing back: resilience
and mastery among HIV-positive older gay and bisexual men. The Gerontologist, 57(suppl_1),
pp.S40-S49.
Gourlay, A., Fox, J., Gafos, M., Fidler, S., Nwokolo, N., Clarke, A., Gilson, R., Orkin, C.,
Collins, S., Porter, K. and Hart, G. (2017). A qualitative study exploring the social and
environmental context of recently acquired HIV infection among men who have sex with men in
South-East England. BMJ Open, [online] 7(8), p.16494. Available at: this record (Permalink):
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live&scope=site [Accessed 19 Mar. 2019].
Malek, R., Mitchell, H., Furegato, M., Simms, I., Mohammed, H., Nardone, A. and Hughes, G.
(2015). Contribution of transmission in HIV-positive men who have sex with men to evolving
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2009–2013. Eurosurveillance, [online] 20(15), p.21093. Available at: Available at: http://0-
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Murphy, P., Garrido-Hernansaiz, H., Mulcahy, F. and Hevey, D. (2018). HIV-related stigma and
optimism as predictors of anxiety and depression among HIV-positive men who have sex with
men in the United Kingdom and Ireland. AIDS Care, [online] 30(9), pp.1173-1179. Available at:
http://0-search.ebscohost.com.brum.beds.ac.uk/login.aspx?direct=true&db=
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Tht.org.uk. (2019). HIV statistics | Terrence Higgins Trust. [online] Available at:
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