by Lisa Power

While English rates of HIV continue to decline and the uptake of PrEP increases among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM), these successes are not shared equally by different groups within this population, two poster presentations at the 23rd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2020: Virtual) show. Some differences were stark and should be of concern to healthcare providers, while others indicate the need to target PrEP support and promotion.

A small number of major HIV and sexual health clinics, half of them in London, have been much more successful in reducing new diagnoses in gay and bisexual men than others. But even in these clinics, diagnoses are falling more slowly in men who are black and from other ethnic minorities, as well as in those who were born overseas. In those clinics with less success in reducing new diagnoses, racial disparities were particularly stark.

Accompanying this, a second study showed that PrEP uptake in two major cities was linked to being older, employed and in stable housing alongside the expected indicators of sexual behaviour. Read more via AIDSmap

Brown A et al. The decline in new HIV diagnoses in gay and bisexual men in the United Kingdom: the clinic impact. 23rd International AIDS Conference, poster PEC0369, 2020.

Hanum N et al. Use of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in England. 23rd International AIDS Conference, poster PEC0367, 2020.