title: Why MSM in rural South African communities should be an HIV prevention research priority.
abstract: Research into HIV and men who have sex with men's (MSM) health in South Africa has been largely confined to the metropolitan centres. Only two studies were located making reference to MSM in rural contexts or same-sex behaviors among men in the same. There is growing recognition in South Africa that MSM are not only disproportionately affected by HIV and have been underserved by the country's national response, but that they contribute significantly to sustaining the high number of new infections recorded each year. We argue that to meet the objectives of the country's national strategic plan for HIV, STI and TB it is important we know how these behaviours may be contributing to the sustained rural HIV epidemic in the youngest age groups and determine what constitutes appropriate and feasible programmatic response that can be implemented in the country's public sector health services.
authors.affiliation: Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, PO Box 198, Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, 3935, South Africa. jimrie@africacentre.ac.za
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Imrie
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hoddinott
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: Marie-Louise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Newell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006292:Health Priorities; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012106:Research; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa; D055815:Young Adult