UBCO study: Men in smaller cities reluctant to test for HIV

published on June 26, 2016 in Kelowna Capital News

Men who live outside major Canadian cities and have sex with other men are less likely to get an HIV test than their metropolitan counterparts, a UBCO study shows.

The study, conducted at the UBC’ Okanagan campus, also shows that the lower testing rates are likely connected to internalized feelings of homophobia and a reluctance to disclose sexual preferences at a doctor’s office.

“This study shows that a lack of feeling accepted appears to not only pose mental health risks, it poses physical health risks,” said Susan Holtzman, UBCO associate professor of psychology. “

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Contributor

I recently attended a talk given by Dr. Julio Montaner, one of B.C.’s experts on HIV. He mentioned that one of his patients had recently passed away.

I’m sure most of the people in the room were surprised to hear his description of the patient: a 92-year old man who passed away in his sleep. His HIV had nothing to do with his death.

HIV treatment has become simpler, more effective and better tolerated, which has led to major improvements in health outcomes. Because the medications work to decrease the amount of virus in the blood and body fluids, people are healthier and more able to do the things they want to do. In addition to extending life expectancy, the medications make it less likely that people will transmit the virus to others.

Dr. Montaner and our Interior Health physicians regularly describe the “new face of HIV.” Canadians beginning HIV treatment today can expect to live into their early 70s or longer, and it is estimated that over 30 per cent of people living with HIV in Canada are now aged 50 or older, a number that is likely to increase given that between 1985 and 2012, more than 30 per cent of new HIV diagnoses were among people over the age of 40.

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Julio Montaner

BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

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UBCO study: Men in smaller cities reluctant to test for HIV

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