Despite progress in HIV testing as well as in antiretroviral treatments, the 6,000 new discoveries of seropositivity each year still weigh heavily on the burden of the disease in France. They also demonstrate a lack of prevention. As the last one points out Weekly epidemiological bulletin (BEH) devoted to HIV epidemic control in France, “The prevalence of HIV among young men who have sex with men (MSM) is already high (6% among those under 30), higher than in other European cities and increasing over the years. testifies to a problem of adherence of the youngest to our prevention policies “.
Young people who shun condoms
This BEH presents the figures of the Prevagay study which investigated men having relationships with men from 5 French cities (Lille, Lyon, Montpellier, Nice and Paris) frequenting bars, saunas and backrooms. A total of 2,646 MSM agreed to participate. The prevalence for HIV was estimated at 14.3% (4.4% among those under 25).
In this population, the non-use condom is important : “just under half (45%) had had more than 10 partners in the year. Almost a third of MSM (32%) had not used a condom systematically during anal penetrations with status partners different or unknown HIV status “ underlines the survey.
It is also the only group of HIV transmission for which the number of new diagnoses is not decreasing.
“These results encourage the continuation of preventive actions in places of gay conviviality” emphasize the authors of the study.
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