Alarming Africa male gay HIV rate
20 July 2009
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.
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 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".
"This has the consequence that this group becomes extremely hard to reach," he said.
source:bbc.com/health