According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National HIV Prevention Progress Report, 2013: “CDC collects data about sexual risk behaviors among MSM every three years in selected cities. Comparing 2008 and 2011, there was no change in the percentage of MSM who reported unprotected anal sex during their last sexual encounter with a male partner whose HIV status was believed to be different than their own (discordant) or was unknown. In both years, 13.7% reported unprotected anal sex with a discordant or unknown HIV status partner during their last sexual encounter. A little more than half of MSM reported unprotected anal sex with one or more partners of any HIV status in the past 12 months. Slightly more men reported any unprotected anal sex in 2011 (57%) compared to 2008 (54%).”
In 2010, gay and bisexual men accounted for 63% of estimated new HIV infections in the United States and 78% of infections among all newly infected men. Results of HIV testing conducted in 20 cities as part of the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System (NHBS) indicated that 18% of gay and bisexual men tested in 2011 had HIV.
In conclusion, and in the words of the CDC, their findings paint a grim picture: “The lack of change in this indicator [anal sex in MSM], coupled with increasing numbers of new HIV infections among MSM, is especially worrisome. There is an urgent need to improve the effectiveness of HIV prevention efforts for all MSM, especially young, racial/ethnic minority, and HIV-positive MSM. Reducing unprotected anal sex among MSM, especially with discordant/unknown HIV status partners, remains an important public health goal.”
Link to original report: