The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #153828 Message #3616796
Posted By: akenaton
08-Apr-14 - 05:03 PM
Thread Name: BS: Discussion of HIV transmission.
Subject: RE: BS: Discussion of HIV transmission.
Well the point is surely not how MANY MSM as opposed to heterosexuals, are presenting new infections, but the rates at which they present those infections. There is such a massive difference in the MSM population and the heterosexual population, that real numbers are meaningless. NEW infections of HIV and Syphilis are very rare among heterosexuals, but run at epidemic proportions amongst MSM.
Hence it is important to supply infection rates by demographic, as not to do so would completely distort the real problems of transmission.
If the figures were presented as one number for all cases of new infections, we would be unaware which sections of society required targeting.....the figures would show a gradual fall and the epidemic amongst MSM could be concealed.