title: The increase in global HIV epidemics in MSM.
abstract: Epidemics of HIV in MSM continue to expand in most low, middle, and upper income countries in 2013 and rates of new infection have been consistently high among young MSM. Current prevention and treatment strategies are insufficient for this next wave of HIV spread. We conducted a series of comprehensive reviews of HIV prevalence and incidence, risks for HIV, prevention and care, stigma and discrimination, and policy and advocacy options. The high per act transmission probability of receptive anal intercourse, sex role versatility among MSM, network level effects, and social and structural determinants play central roles in disproportionate disease burdens. HIV can be transmitted through large MSM networks at great speed. Molecular epidemiologic data show marked clustering of HIV in MSM networks, and high proportions of infections due to transmission from recent infections. Prevention strategies that lower biological risks, including those using antiretrovirals, offer promise for epidemic control, but are limited by structural factors including, discrimination, criminalization, and barriers to healthcare. Subepidemics, including among racial and ethnic minority MSM in the United States and UK, are particularly severe and will require culturally tailored efforts. For the promise of new and combined bio-behavioral interventions to be realized, clinically competent healthcare is necessary and community leadership, engagement, and empowerment are likely to be key. Addressing the expanding epidemics of HIV in MSM will require continued research, increased resources, political will, policy change, structural reform, community engagement, and strategic planning and programming, but it can and must be done.
authors.affiliation: aCenter for Public Health and Human Rights, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland bRollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA cImpacta, Lima, Peru damfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, Washington DC eDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA fLaTrobe University, Melbourne, Australia gCenter for the Development and Education of People, Blantrye, Malawi hFenway Community Health Center and Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beyrer
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Stefan D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Baral
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Wirtz
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Altman
authors.forename: Gift
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trapence
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mayer
mesh_terms: D058872:Epidemics; D014943:Global Health; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence