Yale University

From personal survival to public health: community leadership by men who have sex with men in the response to HIV.

TitleFrom personal survival to public health: community leadership by men who have sex with men in the response to HIV.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsTrapence, Gift, Chris Collins, Sam Avrett, Robert Carr, Hugo Sanchez, George Ayala, Daouda Diouf, Chris Beyrer, and Stefan D. Baral
JournalLancet
Volume380
Issue9839
Pagination400-10
Date Published2012 Jul 28
ISSN1474-547X
KeywordsDelivery of Health Care, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, HIV Infections, Homosexuality, Male, Humans, International Cooperation, Leadership, Male, Public Health, Sexual Behavior
AbstractCommunity leadership and participation by gay men and men who have sex with men (MSM) have been central to the response to HIV since the beginning of the epidemic. Through a wide array of actions, engagement of MSM has been important in the protection of communities. The connection between personal and community health as drivers of health advocacy continue to be a powerful element. The passion and urgency brought by MSM communities have led to the targeting and expansion of HIV and AIDS research and programming, and have improved the synergy of health and human rights, sustainability, accountability, and health outcomes for all people affected by HIV. MSM are, however, frequently excluded from the evidence-based services that they helped to develop, despite them generally being the most effective actors in challenging environments. Without MSM community involvement, government-run health programmes might have little chance of effectively reaching communities or scaling up interventions to lessen, and ultimately end, the HIV pandemic.
DOI10.1016/S1473-3099(12)70066-X
Alternate JournalLancet

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