Gay, bisexual men urged to take part in HSE survey on sexual health

The HSE is carrying out a survey of gay and bisexual men in an attempt to reduce the high levels of HIV among men who have sex with men.

This group accounted for 46 per cent of new HIV diagnoses in Ireland in 2013 and this trend continued last year, according to Dr Derval Igoe of the HSE's Health Protection Surveillance Centre.

Dr Igoe said it was vital that more research was undertaken in this area provide the necessary information to help reverse this trend. The research aims to improve the sexual health and wellbeing of gay and bisexual men and reduce the incidence of all sexually-transmitted infections .

The internet survey,which is now live (misi.ie) asks about relationships, sex life, behaviours, drug use, risks and precautions, and use of health services. It is anonymous and takes about 15 minutes to complete. It will close on May 31st.

It’s five years since the last survey of this type was carried out as part of the European MSM (men who have sex with men) internet survey. That found that almost 38 per cent of men surveyed had never been tested for HIV. Almost 40 per cent of men surveyed said they had never had a test for a sexually-transmitted infection, other than HIV.

More than one in five surveyed said they had reported a newly-diagnosed sexually-transmitted infection other than HIV in the preceding 12 months.

It also found that homophobic abuse was a common experience among those surveyed and frequently included being stared at or intimidated, or being verbally insulted because of their sexual preference.

The findings were used in planning and developing the HSE and Gay Health Network’s new programme and are also being used in the development of the forthcoming national sexual health strategy.

As well as the HSE and Health Protection Surveillance Centre, this latest survey is being supported by the Crisis Pregnancy Programme and the Gay Health Network.

Susan Donlon of the Gay Health Network said up-to-date research was "fundamental in addressing knowledge gaps and informing the development of a strong evidence-base through which HIV prevention and sexual health policy and service delivery can be planned".

Mick Quinlan, manager of the HSE's gay men's health service urged as many men as possible to participate in the survey. "If you are over 18, living in Ireland, and are a man who has sex with other men, then this survey is for you."