Homosexual and bisexual males are utilizing condoms lower than ever, and the decline has been significantly steep amongst those that are younger or Hispanic, in accordance with a new examine. The worrisome pattern factors to an pressing want for higher prevention methods because the nation struggles to beat the H.I.V. epidemic, researchers mentioned.
Over the previous decade, prevention remedy generally known as PrEP has helped gas a reasonable drop in H.I.V. charges. And but, regardless of persistent public well being campaigns selling the medicine, they’ve not been adopted in substantial numbers by Black and Hispanic males who’re homosexual or bisexual.
The usage of condoms, which forestall H.I.V. in addition to different sexually transmitted infections, has been declining throughout the board in recent times, not simply amongst homosexual males, contributing to a rise in sexually transmitted infections.
Researchers mentioned that, with a lot concentrate on PrEP, public well being officers have ignored condoms, contributing to the drop-off of their use.
“The objective of selling PrEP is a useful one, however it has overshadowed different prevention methods like condoms,” mentioned Steven Goodreau, an H.I.V. skilled on the College of Washington. He led the brand new examine and co-wrote a associated editorial.
A spokesman for the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention acknowledged declining condom use, however he mentioned the company continues to advertise them. Native well being departments that obtain federal cash for H.I.V. prevention should embody condom distribution of their methods, for instance.
H.I.V. charges have fallen in recent times thanks partially to PrEP. However the decline in the US — 12 p.c from 2017 to 2021, in accordance with authorities estimates — has trailed many different rich Western nations and even some hard-hit African nations.
Homosexual and bisexual males are disproportionately affected: They make up simply 2 p.c of U.S. adults and 70 p.c of recent H.I.V. instances. And an infection charges are a lot increased in Black and Hispanic homosexual males than in white homosexual males.
In 2012, pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, debuted amid landmark analysis exhibiting that, when taken each day, antiretroviral medicine practically get rid of the danger of contracting H.I.V.