Men die more frequently from HIV than women

Study on the World AIDS Day shows: Men are too careless with the HIV risk

Researchers now found that HIV-infected men die more frequently than women. This seems to be because men often know nothing about their infection. Therefore, men are less likely to seek medical treatment, they are starting therapy too late or interrupting their treatment.

UNAID researchers in their latest study found that men die more often from HIV than women. The experts published a press release on the results of their study on the occasion of World AIDS Day.

Every year many people die as a result of HIV. Researchers found that men died much more frequently from the effects of infection than women. (Image: VadimGuzhva - fotolia)

36.7 million people have HIV

In total there are about 36.7 million people in the world who have HIV. However, many of the affected men do not know about their condition at all. Because infected men are less likely to be tested compared to infected women, the risk of death increases in men. According to UNAids researchers, less than half of all men with HIV worldwide are taking part in medical treatment. For comparison: About 60 percent of women with HIV are being treated. In addition, the results of the study showed that men often start therapy too late and stop their treatment more often.

In certain regions condoms are used less often

In sub-Saharan Africa, men are less likely to know about their own HIV status than women by 20 percent, say the authors of the study. When it comes to protection against the infection, especially older men in this region use their condoms at their one-night stands, scientists continue. Of course, in the affected people increased HIV infections are the result.

Men should protect themselves, their sexual partners and their families from HIV

In 2016, 36.7 million people around the world were infected with HIV. Of those affected, fewer than 21 million people had access to antiretroviral drugs. If men were to participate in programs to fight HIV, they and their families could benefit from it three times, says UNAIDS Director Michel Sidibé. They protect themselves, their sexual partners and their families.

In 2016, one million people died as a result of HIV

In 2016, approximately one million people died of AIDS or of a disease associated with HIV. This year alone, 1.8 million people were newly infected with the disease, explain the doctors. Homosexual men often fall ill with AIDS. The study found that in more than ten countries worldwide, 15 percent of homosexual men live with AIDS. These included, for example, Mexico and Nigeria.

People with HIV must not be marginalized

The annual World AIDS Day was held this year on December 1st. Through the World AIDS Day, people should be sensitized to meet people with HIV without prejudice and fears. Such people should not be marginalized and continue to be treated like any other person in our society. It is important that especially family, friends and acquaintances treat the HIV-infected as normal and they can continue to remain a part of their usual social environment, the experts emphasize. The theme of World AIDS Day is: Living together positively.

Men must participate in HIV prevention measures

Some AIDS programs target gender differences, which are often the cause of women's and girls' risk of infection. "But there is a blind spot in men. Men do not use HIV prevention or HIV testing services and do not use treatments as much as women, "says Michel Sidibé of UNAIDS. (As)