More than 61,650 (18%) of the fresh HIV/AIDS infection cases in 2022 were from gays

 

Men living with HIV and AIDS in Kenya

According to the findings of the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council, 18.2% of newly acquired HIV infections were transmitted from one man to another during an@l s£x.

Based on a study that was published in 2022 by the council, 61,650 males who were sleeping with other men were responsible for the new HIV infections that occurred in the previous decade.

In addition, the research found that individuals who identify as transgender registered a total of 4,370 new HIV infections, while female s£x workers were responsible for 197,096 new infections.

In a similar vein, there were 26,673 newly documented illnesses among persons who inject drugs.

More men died of HIV/AIDS

The survey also revealed that, during the last ten years, a greater number of men than women had passed away as a result of HIV/Aids.

The sickness claimed the lives of 8,291 adult males aged 30 and older, while 6,923 adult females succumbed to the same infection. 37 percent of the fatalities attributed to AIDS were males, which was represented by the number of men mentioned.

The study also found that males had a lower likelihood of receiving a diagnosis, beginning treatment, and continuing to take their medication compared to women.

In addition, the organisation brought to light the fact that an estimated 883,694 of the 1.4 million persons living with HIV who are between the ages of 35 and 74 were identified as having the virus at an earlier age.

In the two years spanning 2021 and 2022, new HIV infections occurred at a higher rate in 36 of the 47 counties. The new HIV infections were concentrated in fifteen of these counties, accounting for 70 percent of the total.

Kenya's national coordinator for the association of persons living with HIV Nelson Otwoma urged societies to assist in facilitating men's access to screening as well as their continued participation in treatment.

"The majority of fatalities attributed to AIDS in 2021 were reported to have happened in males, who are statistically less likely than females to be identified, begin and continue treatment, and achieve a suppressed viral load. 

"We encourage societies to assist men's accessibility to screening and care continuation, and we call on them to do so "he had said.