Terrence Higgins Trust is launching a new campaign today teaching gay men just how HIV is passed on during unprotected anal sex. With little or no sex education relevant to young gay men in schools this new campaign gives a valuable biology lesson to fill these important knowledge gaps.

The ‘Biology of Transmission’ campaign, aimed especially at younger men and others new to gay sex, gets vital HIV transmission information across using three striking ‘bottom’ themed images;

- the sponge - illustrating how the lining of the rectum absorbs semen and pre-cum containing HIV.

- the eggs - covering how the rectal lining can be damaged during anal sex or when objects enter the rectum, allowing HIV easier entry into the bloodstream.

- the peach - explaining how (often unnoticed) sexually transmitted infections make it easier for HIV to be passed on due to skin damage inside the rectum

The sponge, egg and peach images will appear on ads in national and local gay press for three months until late January. They will also be seen on posters, condom packs and wallet sized information cards inside liquid filled travelcard holders. Ads on popular gay web sites such as Gaydar and Recon will take men to the http://www.chapsonline.org.uk/biology web pages where they can find all they need to know about how HIV is transmitted and prevented during sex between men. An action doll-themed booklet called ‘Ready for Action’ is also being distributed explaining the many ways men can reduce their risk of getting or passing on HIV.

Marc Thompson, Deputy Head of Health Promotion said: “Many men become sexually active having left school without the basic HIV facts they need to stay safe. Young men have been very enthusiastic about this new campaign. With its simple language and easily understood visuals men of all ages will benefit from hearing how HIV is transmitted and how condoms - or having non-penetrative sex - greatly reduces their risk.”

‘Biology of Transmission’ is a revised version of a CHAPS campaign that first ran seven years ago and which won the 2003 Communication Excellence Award. It has been independently evaluated as the most popular and effective of all the CHAPS campaigns. The accompanying ‘Ready for Action’ booklet has been given a Patient Information Award by the British Medical Association.

Notes

The CHAPS programme is funded by the Department of Health and co-ordinated by Terrence Higgins Trust to provide HIV health promotion to gay men in England and Wales. The partnership includes THT, GMFA, Manchester’s Lesbian and Gay Foundation, Yorkshire MESMAC, Trade Men’s Sexual Health Project in Leicester, Liverpool’s Armistead Project, Sheffield Centre for HIV and Sexual Health, the Eddystone Trust in Plymouth, and Sigma Research. http://www.chapsonline.org.uk

Source
Terrence Higgins Trust

HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) is launching a free guide for African communities in the UK, stressing the importance of regular testing for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The guide, called ‘Be Wise’, has been funded by the Pan-London HIV Prevention Programme to tackle high rates of HIV among Africans.

In the UK, African communities are the group at highest risk of contracting HIV; the most recent figures from 2007 show Black Africans represented around 40% of all new HIV diagnoses. The ‘Be Wise’ guide will be an important resource for these communities, ensuring Africans are equipped with the knowledge necessary to protect themselves from HIV and STIs.

The free guide takes readers through the entire testing process step by step, first explaining why it’s important to be regularly tested, before describing what the tests actually involve and where they are available from, as well as busting some of the myths that surround sexual health clinics.

Marc Thompson, Deputy Head of Health Promotion at THT, says: “There are so many myths about what actually goes on at sexual health clinics, some of which may discourage people from coming forward for testing. For example, some people may not realise that testing is usually free, anonymous, and most clinics will see you without an appointment.

“It’s important that the ‘Be Wise’ guide doesn’t just help Africans understand how the testing process works but also why they should be testing regularly. The HIV epidemic is having a significant effect on the UK’s African communities today, so it’s vital we make sure people have all the information they need to protect themselves.”

The ‘Be Wise’ guide is available free of charge from African community organisations, sexual health clinics and Terrence Higgins Trust service centres in London.

Source
Terrence Higgins Trust

Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) launches a major new awareness raising campaign aimed at gay men in London. ‘Assumptions’ is aimed at men who don’t use condoms because they think they have correctly identified their partner’s status. This campaign urges men not to assume that they ‘know’ the HIV status of a new partner.

Research shows that some gay men ’sort’ potential sexual partners based on first impressions and assumptions rather than actual disclosure. Many still believe that they can tell someone’s HIV status based on a person’s appearance, or their approach towards unprotected sex. This campaign challenges men to reconsider this assumption. It also highlights the fact this strategy significantly increases the risk of HIV transmission and acquiring other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

‘Assumptions’ consists of a series of three adverts. Each advert features two men having sex and in each scenario, the differing points of view of each man are presented with one man believing: ‘He’s not mentioned condoms. He’s gotta be positive like me’, whilst the other thinks: ‘No condom, so he’s probably negative too’. The strapline of the campaign says: ‘Don’t assume you’re both thinking the same thing.’

Marc Thompson, Deputy Head of Health Promotion for THT said: “We know that some men make a decision to have unprotected sex with someone who they believe shares their HIV status - whether that’s positive or negative. The fact is this approach dramatically increases the risk of HIV as well as other STIs being passed on. We hope this campaign will encourage gay men to think about the assumptions they make about the status of their partner before they have sex. Ultimately we hope ‘Assumptions’ will reduce the number of new HIV infections amongst gay men in London.

The new campaign will run for twelve weeks. There will be adverts in the gay press, posters in bars and saunas and a banner ad online directing men to find out more about ‘Assumptions’.

The ‘Assumptions’ campaign has been funded by the Pan London HIV Prevention Partnership. Men can find out more by visiting http://www.gmfa.org.uk/assumptions.

Source
Terrence Higgins Trust