{"id":59478,"date":"2023-06-27T13:29:45","date_gmt":"2023-06-27T17:29:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.psi.org\/?p=59478"},"modified":"2024-07-22T11:13:25","modified_gmt":"2024-07-22T15:13:25","slug":"mens-health-month-how-do-we-close-the-hiv-treatment-gap-for-men","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.psi.org\/fr\/2023\/06\/mens-health-month-how-do-we-close-the-hiv-treatment-gap-for-men\/","title":{"rendered":"Men’s Health Month: How Do We Close the HIV Treatment Gap for Men?\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Shawn Malone, Project Director, The Mpilo Project, PSI, South Africa<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

June is Men\u2019s Health Month, and while the focus is on\u202fmen\u2019s attitudes about their health, we\u2019ve also been reflecting on the health sector\u2019s attitudes about men.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We hear many stereotypes about men and health. \u201cMen are apathetic about their health.\u201d \u201cMen are poor health-seekers.\u201d \u201cMen are stubborn and difficult patients.\u201d But how many of those are actually true? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 11th<\/sup>\u202fSouth Africa AIDS Conference just concluded, and in one of the plenary sessions we had the opportunity to respond to the question: \u201cStrategies for reaching men\u2014are we seeing a return on investment?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The short answer: Yes! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 2017, the percentage of men with HIV in South Africa who know their status has increased from 78% to 94%, nearly on par with women. We can attribute that in part to approaches like HIV self-testing that have made it quick, easy and private for men to learn their status. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve also seen good progress on viral suppression, which has increased from 82% to 93%, again comparable to the rate among women \u2013 proof that men on treatment are fully capable of being adherent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet only 70% of men who know they have HIV are currently on treatment \u2013 hardly any increase at all from 68% in 2017. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given the progress we\u2019ve seen in men testing for HIV and achieving viral suppression, the persistent gap in men on treatment suggests that something is wrong not with men but with the HIV treatment services and support we are offering them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that we know much more than we did a few years ago about what works. By leveraging user insights, robust evidence, and empathy-based approaches, we\u2019re able to better understand men\u2019s mindsets and barriers and to co-create solutions that respond to men\u2019s needs and preferences \u2013 an approach we call Consumer-Powered Healthcare.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few examples: <\/p>\n\n\n\n