A new study found that half of gay and bisexual men in the United States took anti-HIV drugs in past years, but failed to continue using the medication.
The report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) looked at the lab reports from 19 regions in the United States. The analysis showed that 77 percent of bisexual and gay men diagnosed with HIV in 2010 were given initial care. But, only 51 percent of these affected individuals were given continued care and monitoring.
"One of the most powerful tools for protecting people's health and preventing new HIV infections is reaching only a fraction of the gay men who need it," Davis Purcell, deputy director for behavioral and social science in the CDC's HIV prevention division, told USA Today.
Further, a nationwide analysis showed that 49.5 percent of bisexual and gay men were given prescriptions for drugs to fight HIV, reduce their risk of fatal complications and prevent the spread of the disease.
The study also looked at the drug treatment rates depending on age. Researchers observed that as the age increased, the rates also increased. Drug treatment rates were just 30% in infected men under age 25, and reached 68% in men 55 and older.
According to federal health officials, anyone diagnosed with HIV should immediately seek medical assistance and proper treatment. But, most men stopped receiving continuous treatment during the early stages of the infection.
Purcell explained that men might be embarrassed to seek treatment due to fear of disapproval from other people, and possible discrimination from healthcare providers.
"People may not want to go to a clinic that is called 'the HIV clinic'," Purcell said.
Further details of the study were published in the Sept. 26 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
