HIV, syphilis rise among gay men in Bangkok

[webfact]

HIV, syphilis rise among gay men in Bangkok

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2013 (AFP) - Cases of HIV and syphilis among gay men in Bangkok are on the rise, according to data released by US and Thai health authorities on Friday.

Syphilis cases among gay men more than doubled from five percent in 2005 to 12.5 percent in 2011, said the report in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Meanwhile, the annual prevalence of HIV also rose "significantly," from 24.5 percent in 2005 to 29.4 percent in 2011 among men who have sex with men (MSM), it said.

"These data show ongoing and increasing epidemics of HIV and syphilis infection among MSM in Bangkok," said the report.

The data came from the Silom Community Clinic, located in a central Bangkok hospital and near entertainment venues for gay men.

The clinic was founded in 2005 by a joint collaboration between the Thailand Ministry of Public Health and the US CDC, offering free and confidential tests in an environment "receptive to the health and concerns of the MSM community."

When the team first began collecting data about HIV infections in gay men in Bangkok in 2003, the HIV prevalence was 17 percent.

By 2005 the HIV prevalence in that group had risen to 28 percent, and now it is around 30 percent, said the report.

The data reported by the CDC on Friday was based only on patients who went to the Silom Community Clinic and requested a test for sexually transmitted infection (STI), and may not be representative of the wider gay population in Thailand, the study noted.

Researchers also cautioned that patients who seek out tests and retests tend to engage in higher levels of risky behavior such as anal sex without a condom, and so the findings may be skewed upward.

However, the data underscore "the urgent need for preventive interventions to reduce the spread of HIV and STI in this population," the study said.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-06-29

[isanbirder]

This is from one clinic only, not that it should be ignored for that reason, though.

[David48]

Meanwhile, the annual prevalence of HIV also rose "significantly," from 24.5 percent in 2005 to 29.4 percent in 2011 among men who have sex with men (MSM), it said.

Does this mean or imply that approximately 1 in 3 Gay men in Bangkok is infected with the AIDS Virus?

JohanBkk ... no answer required by you to my question.

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[David48]

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Where's my 'Ignore' Button.

OH ... there it is ...

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[Jingthing]

I suggest moving away from the denialist conspiracy theories, back to the actual very important topic, the report of the HIV infection rate among MSM in Bangkok. Given the location of that clinic, I think it's fair to at least hope that the national infection among MSM rate isn't that high, but for all we know, it might even be higher. We really don't know. Thailand isn't exactly the hub of reliable statistics, now is it?

Also of course syphilis is a very disease as well, and I am not optimistic that most cases here are treated in the early stages of infection, when it needs to be treated.

Edited June 29, 2013 by Jingthing

[rosst]

Poor deluded fool, I trust he does not influence anybody with this tripe. That is enough wasted syllables.

[Scott]

Posts denying the connection between HIV and AIDS have been deleted, along with replies. Please stay on this topic.

[orchis]

this debunks denialist wacko theories that hiv doesn't exist.

http://www.aidstruth.org/denialism/myths

[onthemoon]

The data reported by the CDC on Friday was based only on patients who went to the Silom Community Clinic and requested a test for sexually transmitted infection (STI), and may not be representative of the wider gay population in Thailand, the study noted.

Thanks for the small disclaimer, confirming that the report has no academic validity. However, they seem to have loved to make a sensationalist headline.

I will assume that people who go to the clinic to get tested for STI's have a much higher likelihood of unprotected sex than the general population in that limited geographical area and are therefore much more likely to be HIV positive. Therefore, the sample is not representative anyway.

So, this is what the article says:

"29.4% of the gay people who think they might have caught an STI or STD, have tested positive for other diseases too, such as HIV.

We don't tell you what other diseases they caught, because it wouldn't sell newspapers.

Comparison to straight people who get checked for STIs/STDs and their percentage of HIV positives: We didn't even bother to check.

Relevance to the gay population in general: Zero."

Edited June 29, 2013 by onthemoon

[Jingthing]

Another way to look at it -- the people requesting to be screened for STDs are among the more health conscious of the population!

[Scott]

this debunks denialist wacko theories that hiv doesn't exist.

http://www.aidstruth.org/denialism/myths

I will leave the post with links for those who might be interested, however, discussion of the connection between HIV and AIDS is off-topic.

[CIHUAHUA]

It does not matter what the stats reflect. The problem of HIV is so serious that more research should be done and more money put into it to find a cure for all virus sickness. Den-gay falls into this category as well as influenza. Education does not help if people don't care about their own health. Some are in denial thinking that if someone looks and smells clean then they are clean though they have been taught differently.

[onthemoon]

Another way to look at it -- the people requesting to be screened for STDs are among the more health conscious of the population!

Hm, that's one way to see it, but of course it is an assumption as long as there is no poll - oops, did I say something?

I'd say that if you caught - or think you caught - an STD, you must have been less health conscious to begin with. Of course, condoms are not 100% protective, but the probability that anybody who goes to that clinic for a check-up did not use a condom is rather high.

[Chris Lawrence]

The problem may be that younger males think they are bullet proof due to advances in medicines; or the lack of promoting safe sex practices. These are the areas of follow up research they need to do. But then its finding out the factors that contribute to this high number. Don't know what the services are like in Bangkok and other areas.

The ACON model is very good here in NSW along with Goldsmith organisation.

[JulesMad]

Finally we know why all farangs should submit for a syphilis test when applying for a WorkPermit

[aguy30]

Another way to look at it -- the people requesting to be screened for STDs are among the more health conscious of the population!

Hm, that's one way to see it, but of course it is an assumption as long as there is no poll - oops, did I say something?

I'd say that if you caught - or think you caught - an STD, you must have been less health conscious to begin with. Of course, condoms are not 100% protective, but the probability that anybody who goes to that clinic for a check-up did not use a condom is rather high.

*Derogatory remark edited out*

The clinic in question is located in the Silom area with a high very concentration of gay sex workers and gogo bars, probably the highest in all of Thailand. The results of a survey and tests from that clinic would logically be highly skewed and not likely representative of most other parts of Thailand. Other factors such as more awareness and subsequent testing may also be in play here.

This comment will likely solicit negative responses, but as I understand it, being infected doesn't have to mean highly infectious. It would be interesting to know what percentage of HIV infected are receiving adequate medical treatment and medication to control the HIV and therefore probably at a relatively much lower or very minimal risk of spreading the disease.

Are there any similar clinics and statistics for the Nana, Pattaya or Soi Cowboy areas? Wonder what those would show?

Edited June 29, 2013 by Scott
Inflammatory remark edited out

[somtampet]

The problem may be that younger males think they are bullet proof due to advances in medicines; or the lack of promoting safe sex practices. These are the areas of follow up research they need to do. But then its finding out the factors that contribute to this high number. Don't know what the services are like in Bangkok and other areas.

The ACON model is very good here in NSW along with Goldsmith organisation.

Agree with u,many farangs have unprotected sex with bar workers,and its not rocket science to know that anal sex carries a bigger risk,if unprotected

[mjef]

I only wish those statistics are true just for that area, not all of Bangkok!

It's really disappointing to hear such bad news about our dear LOS.

[onthemoon]

Another way to look at it -- the people requesting to be screened for STDs are among the more health conscious of the population!

Hm, that's one way to see it, but of course it is an assumption as long as there is no poll - oops, did I say something?

I'd say that if you caught - or think you caught - an STD, you must have been less health conscious to begin with. Of course, condoms are not 100% protective, but the probability that anybody who goes to that clinic for a check-up did not use a condom is rather high.

*Derogatory remark edited out*

The clinic in question is located in the Silom area with a high very concentration of gay sex workers and gogo bars, probably the highest in all of Thailand. The results of a survey and tests from that clinic would logically be highly skewed and not likely representative of most other parts of Thailand. Other factors such as more awareness and subsequent testing may also be in play here.

This comment will likely solicit negative responses, but as I understand it, being infected doesn't have to mean highly infectious. It would be interesting to know what percentage of HIV infected are receiving adequate medical treatment and medication to control the HIV and therefore probably at a relatively much lower or very minimal risk of spreading the disease.

Are there any similar clinics and statistics for the Nana, Pattaya or Soi Cowboy areas? Wonder what those would show?

The clinic in question is certainly located in the area you mention. I don't know why you expect negative response, I think you are right on the target and are supporting what I had said.

And thanks for agreeing that the article does not mention anything about the "straight" (? - I mean heterosexual) scene.

[onthemoon]

I only wish those statistics are true just for that area, not all of Bangkok!

It's really disappointing to hear such bad news about our dear LOS.

The article clearly states that the stats are not only restricted to that area, they are restricted to only people who come to that particular clinic to get tested for STDs.

It is totally unrelated to any other people in that area, or Bangkok, or Thailand, or the world.

I do believe it says something about condom use, though. Or people willing to take an anonymous test (which does not exist on Castro Street in San Francisco, by the way).

[LeCharivari]

The seriously worrying thing about this "report" is that some people are taking it seriously.

"... the annual prevalence of HIV also rose "significantly," from 24.5 percent in 2005 to 29.4 percent in 2011 among men who have sex with men (MSM), it said"

The thought that around 1 in 3 MSM in Thailand have HIV would be not only worrying but terrifying if it were actually based on anything, but its not.

This "data" is "based only on patients who went to the Silom Community Clinic and requested a test for sexually transmitted infection (STI)", so the idea that it "may not be representative of the wider gay population in Thailand" must be the understatement of the year - it's like a Thai podiatrist reporting that half this patients have Athletes Foot and the US CDC concluding that half the Thai population have Athletes Foot.

There could be any number of reasons why the number of those being tested and proving positive has risen, of which a rise in HIV rates is only one, and not even the most likely one:

treatment is now not only free but reasonably effective - previously there was little point in being tested if you knew that even if you tested positive you either couldn't afford the treatment or the treatment was ineffective anyway;

the stigma of HIV is considerably less now than before, and even if the tests are anonymous those going to the clinic on a regular basis for their prescriptions would be considered to be going there for only one thing by anyone recognising them;

A far more reasonable (but equally absurd) conclusion would be that over half the gay men in New York (possibly America) have HIV because 12 of the 22 men infected with a particular strain of meningitis by casual contact have HIV ( http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/640829-new-msm-related-health-scare-emerging-in-new-york-spread-by-casual-contact/ ).

[LeCharivari]

The second seriously worrying thing about this "report" is that some versions, such as that at the US Embassy website ( http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/supaporn-txt.html ), do not even mention that the data was only from the Silom clinic, but focus totally on MSM and the prevalence of HIV in that group, at a supposed 30%:

"In fact, HIV/AIDS in MSM has been at the core of the HIV epidemic since its beginning. The first reported case of AIDS in Thailand was of a homosexual male and most of the early HIV cases in the country occurred in MSM. Today, MSM are second only to injection drug users as the group with the highest prevalence of HIV in Thailand. Nonetheless, heterosexual populations have been the focus of the Thai government’s successful, and now famous, HIV prevention campaigns. Consequently, awareness of HIV status and prevention knowledge among MSM in Thailand remains low, thereby increasing the likelihood of infection in this particular group."

[sustento]

Another way to look at it -- the people requesting to be screened for STDs are among the more health conscious of the population!

Either that or they're worried that they've actually caught one and are thus completely unrepresentative.

[onthemoon]

The second seriously worrying thing about this "report" is that some versions, such as that at the US Embassy website ( http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/supaporn-txt.html ), do not even mention that the data was only from the Silom clinic, but focus totally on MSM and the prevalence of HIV in that group, at a supposed 30%:

"In fact, HIV/AIDS in MSM has been at the core of the HIV epidemic since its beginning. The first reported case of AIDS in Thailand was of a homosexual male and most of the early HIV cases in the country occurred in MSM. Today, MSM are second only to injection drug users as the group with the highest prevalence of HIV in Thailand. Nonetheless, heterosexual populations have been the focus of the Thai government’s successful, and now famous, HIV prevention campaigns. Consequently, awareness of HIV status and prevention knowledge among MSM in Thailand remains low, thereby increasing the likelihood of infection in this particular group."

You should bring this to the attention of the US Ambassador - she is quite smart.

Edited July 4, 2013 by onthemoon