In Calgary and throughout North America, HIV/AIDS first appeared in the gay community. |
But
HIV/AIDS is not restricted to gay men. Today, it is estimated that
between 75 and 85% of HIV cases around the world have been contracted
by sexual contact, and most cases through heterosexual contact. A number of circumstances place men at particularly high risk of contracting HIV. For example, men tend to have more sex partners than women, including extramarital partners. They are less likely than women to seek health care. Men make up 80% of the world’s estimated seven million injection drug users - a high-risk group for contracting AIDS. There are also more men in prisons, where homosexual and drug-related activities are common and harm reduction tools are not available or easily accessible. Since the penis is the most likely area of transmission of HIV/AIDS for males, the consistent use of condoms is vital to prevention. For more information on HIV/AIDS and men, check out our Briefing Documents and our Links. |