XVIII International AIDS Conference

GMHC at the International AIDS Conference
 

“Be Heard! Gay Men and Other MSM in the Global HIV Pandemic”
— MSM Pre-Conference

 

July 17, 2010
Presentation: 2:15 pm – 3:45 pm
Growing Older with the Epidemic: HIV and Aging
Thanks to antiretroviral therapy, people with HIV are living longer. Many are living into old age. In the U.S., one third of people with HIV are over 50, and by 2015 half will be 50+. Half of older Americans living with HIV are gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM). While enhanced life spans are a welcome development, aging also presents new challenges. Older MSM living with HIV develop co-morbidities common to other older adults, like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Little is known about the interactions between these conditions and the medications needed to treat them. Fundamental policy reform is needed, as well as changes in health care and senior services, to provide culturally competent services to older HIV+ gay men/MSM. With a growing number of new infections occurring among older adults, prevention messages that work with older MSM must be developed. Panelists will examine regional variations and experiences of older MSM around the world. Sean Cahill, PhD, Managing Director of Public Policy, Research and Community Health
Jeff Rindler, Managing Director of Program Services

IAC – Main Conference

(All Poster Presentations Take Place in the Poster Exhibition Area)

July 19, 2010
Poster Presentation:12:30 – 2:30pm
Syringe Exchange Programs Around the World: The Global Context
As injection drug use has become more widespread around the world over the course of the last three decades, so too has needle sharing become a significant factor in fueling the HIV/AIDS epidemic.  Working to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS via injection drug use, syringe exchange programs (SEPs) now operate in approximately 77 countries worldwide.  While SEPs around the world have achieved varying levels of success based on a variety of factors, in each instance SEPs have worked to decrease HIV infection rates, and each national SEP provides a unique opportunity for evaluating the features that result in successful harm reduction. This poster presentation will outline the research and findings of the 2009 GMHC report on the global context of SEPs. Issues include regional variations in:  (i) rates of injection drug use and HIV; (ii) development and funding of SEPs; and (iii) challenges faced by SEPs operating in various countries. Sean Cahill

Satellite Session – 6:30-8:30pm (Mini Room 8)
HIV/AIDS and Aging: Emerging Issues in Research, Care, Treatment, and Prevention
This series of presentations and panel will discuss issues affecting the aging HIV/AIDS population. Topics will include “long-term survivors”, people newly diagnosed with HIV or AIDS and people newly infected with HIV. Speakers will address what is known and not yet known about the interaction of aging, HIV disease, and medications among PLWHA, as well as the physiological, psycho-social, and environmental factors that contribute to vulnerability to HIV infection and to responsibility for caregiving among older persons in different geographic settings. Sean Cahill (Moderator)

July 20, 2010
Poster Presentation – 12:30-2:30pm
Content analysis of HIV/STD Risk Reduction Related Role Model Stories for Young Men of Color Who Have Sex with Men
High rates of HIV and other STIs have been found among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) from the New York City House & Ball Community, a social structure of predominantly African-American and Latino gay and transgender persons. This study analyzed evidence-based (EB) Role Model Stories (RMS) in terms of stages-of-change theory for unprotected sex among YMSM. RMS distributed addressed the stage-of-change at one level above of the target population. The analysis of RMS provides a way to assess levels of fidelity. This poster presentation will outline the goals, analysis and impact of RMSs created by GMHC. Francisco Roque, Director of Community Health

July 21, 2010
Poster Presentation: 12:30 – 2:30
Evaluating Strength Based Social Marketing Campaigns Targeting Young Men Who Have Sex with Men That Address Family Rejection and Homophobia by Modeling Love and Support
In the US nearly three in five new HIV infections occur among gay and bisexual men. Young Black and Latino gay men are disproportionately affected. Family acceptance and LGBT-affirming interventions correlate with lower HIV risk behavior. Youth involvement through social marketing campaigns (SMC) and the internet can be harnessed to address this growing problem and promote family support. GMHC created 2 SMCs named “I love my boo” and “My son is my life” highlighting young gay men of color in loving and supportive relationships with their partners and their fathers. These 2 SMC's were created with community input and were widely disseminated in NYC. This poster presentation will outline the goals, methods and community impact of these two SMCs.  Francisco Roque

Media Contacts:
USA:  Krishna Stone, 00+1-347-668-6161, krishnas@gmhc.org
Vienna:  Roberta Sklar, 00+1-917-704-6358, robertasklar@yahoo.com