The Men Who Have Sex With Men Survey | Pocketmags.com

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The Men Who Have Sex With Men Survey

On October 26, the HSE launched a major survey of men who have sex with men (MSM). The survey which is aimed at European MSM, is open until the end of the year and is available is 32 languages in a bid to attract participation from across 50 countries.

The European MSM Internet Survey 2017 (EMIS) aims to identify the sexual health of MSM, and the HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention needs of gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men, including transgender men and men living with HIV.

The survey asks about relationships, sex life, behaviours, risks and precautions, and use of health services. The last survey of this type was carried out in Ireland in 2015.

“The large response to previous EMIS and MISI surveys resulted from high levels of awareness and appreciation of their value at a community and social level,” says Mick Quinlan, EMIS 2017 Communications Lead with the Gay Health Network (GHN), who have spearheaded promotion of the survey across the country.

“The survey takes around 20 minutes to complete and is totally anonymous. We are encouraging as many men as possible to be part of something huge and to tell us about their sex lives.”

Statistics released by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) in October, 2016 revealed the startling state of MSMs sexual heatlth. There were 273 HIV diagnoses in the first six months of 2016. This compares to 283 in the latter half of 2015 and 203 in the first half of that year. Of those 273 new diagnoses, 222 were male and 129 of those were MSM.

“In 2016, MSM accounted for just over half of new HIV diagnoses in Ireland,” says Dr. Derval Igoe of the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre.

“We are also seeing increasing numbers of gonorrhoea and syphilis notifications in this group. A HSE multi-sectoral response group is implementing an action plan to reverse these increasing trends. This survey will provide us with up to date information on sexual behaviours, and any gaps in knowledge, availability or use of these prevention interventions, and will be extremely helpful to us in this work.”

The GHN are also busy promoting a new poster and advert campaign for European HIV and Hepatitis Week, (November 17–24). The campaign, run in connection with the HSE and man2man.ie, aims to raise awarenesss around sexual health. MSMs are encouraged to consider testing, or go for regular tests for HIV and STIs and to also avail of the free Hepatitis A&B vaccine.

The promotional poster campaign will publicise when and where free HIV, Hepatitis and STI testing and the Hepatitis vaccine is available.

Take 20 minutes out of your day to fill out the European Men Who Have Sex With Men Internet Survey at www.emis2017.eu

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