eprintid: 6748 rev_number: 76 eprint_status: archive userid: 598 dir: disk0/00/00/67/48 datestamp: 2008-09-19 06:49:35 lastmod: 2020-02-13 01:29:36 status_changed: 2008-09-19 06:49:35 type: article metadata_visibility: show item_issues_count: 0 creators_name: Dodds, JP creators_name: Johnson, AM creators_name: Parry, JV creators_name: Mercey, DE title: A tale of three cities: persisting high HIV prevalence, risk behaviour and undiagnosed infection in community samples of men who have sex with men subjects: 6830 subjects: 6800 divisions: UCL divisions: A01 divisions: B02 divisions: C09 divisions: D01 divisions: G16 keywords: HOMOSEXUAL-MEN, LONDON, INCREASES, GONORRHEA, SYPHILIS, ENGLAND, SALIVA, WALES, UK abstract: Objectives: To examine the geographical variations in HIV prevalence (diagnosed and undiagnosed), use of sexual health services, sexually transmitted infections and sexual behaviour in a community sample of men who have sex with men in three cities in England, specifically London, Brighton and Manchester.Methods: Cross-sectional surveys of men visiting gay community venues in three large cities in England. Men self-completed a questionnaire and provided an anonymous oral fluid sample for HIV antibody testing.Results: HIV prevalence ranged from 8.6% to 13.7% in the three cities. Over one-third of HIV infection remained undiagnosed in all sites despite 69% of HIV-positive men reporting attending a genitourinary medicine clinic in the last year. Similar and high levels of risk behaviour were reported in all three cities. 18% of HIV-negative men and 37% of HIV-positive men reported unprotected anal intercourse with more than one partner in the last year. 20% of negative men and 41% of positive men reported an STI in the last year.Conclusions: Across all cities, despite widespread availability of anti-retroviral treatment and national policy to promote HIV testing, many HIV infections remain undiagnosed. Data from this community sample demonstrate high levels of risk behaviour and STI incidence, especially among those who are HIV positive. Renewed efforts are needed to increase diagnosis and to reduce risk behaviour to stem the continuing transmission of HIV. date: 2007-08-01 date_type: published publisher: B M J PUBLISHING GROUP official_url: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ articles/PMC2659037/?tool=pubmed vfaculties: VFPHS vfaculties: VFPHS rae2008: 6 oa_status: green pmcid: PMC2659037 primo: open primo_central: open_green article_type_text: Article verified: verified_batch elements_source: Web of Science elements_id: 88967 doi: 10.1136/sti.2006.021782 lyricists_name: Dodds, Julie lyricists_name: Johnson, Anne lyricists_name: Mercey, Danielle lyricists_id: JPDOD39 lyricists_id: AMJOH29 lyricists_id: DEMER20 full_text_status: public publication: SEX TRANSM INFECT volume: 83 number: 5 pagerange: 392 - 396 refereed: TRUE issn: 1368-4973 citation: Dodds, JP; Johnson, AM; Parry, JV; Mercey, DE; (2007) A tale of three cities: persisting high HIV prevalence, risk behaviour and undiagnosed infection in community samples of men who have sex with men. SEX TRANSM INFECT , 83 (5) 392 - 396. 10.1136/sti.2006.021782 <https://doi.org/10.1136/sti.2006.021782>. Green open access document_url: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/6748/1/6748.pdf