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hy did the medical community initially call HIV "gay-associated immunodeficiency"? What is the meaning behind this name
In the 1970s and 1980s, with the emergence and spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the medical community quickly linked it to the men who have sex with men (MSM) community. The process began in 1981, when doctors discovered a cluster of cases of Kaposi sarcoma and Pneumocystis pneumonia in Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, most of whom were homosexual men. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) subsequently published its first official report on the disease on June 5, 1981, documenting five cases of young homosexuals being hospitalized with severe infection.
"In 1982, the medical community began to refer to the condition as 'gay-related immune deficiency' (GRID), a name that later caused widespread controversy."
As the understanding of the disease deepens, the medical community has gradually realized that HIV/AIDS not only affects the MSM group, but in fact everyone, regardless of gender and sexual orientation, may be infected. Despite this, MSM are still considered a “key group” globally, meaning they face higher rates and risks of HIV infection.
According to United Nations estimates, the global median HIV prevalence among MSM is 7.7%. Even so, this cannot obscure the sociocultural context in which the term "gay-associated immunodeficiency" was initially used by the medical community.
Sociocultural background of "homosexuality-related immunodeficiency"
The use of the term "gay-related immunodeficiency" reflects the widespread misunderstanding and prejudice against homosexuality in society at that time. During this time, many doctors and the general public still viewed homosexuality as a pathology or moral deficiency, which led to prejudice and stigmatization against HIV patients. In the 1980s, HIV/AIDS was labeled as being related to gender and sexual orientation, which affected the medical community's understanding of and response to the disease.
"Many MSM choose not to label themselves as gay or bisexual, which furthers the caricature and simplification of the group."
It was not until 1982 that the medical community began to use the term "acquired immune deficiency syndrome" (AIDS) as a replacement for GRID, and the abbreviation AIDS was officially used in September of the same year. This change is not only an update of the disease name, but also a rethinking of social concepts.
The association between MSM and HIV
Although statistics show that MSM only account for a small proportion of the US population, they are still the group most affected by HIV/AIDS. According to the CDC, men who have sex with men (MSM) accounted for 61% of new HIV infections in the United States in 2009. Of the nearly 780,000 people living with HIV, approximately 51% are MSM.
There are multiple reasons for this phenomenon, including behavioral and cultural factors, especially among African American men, and the emergence of the term "down-low" reveals a pervasive sexual identity The opposite of behavior. In this culture, many black men who identify as straight actually still seek sexual contact with other men but are reluctant to admit it openly due to social pressure.
Prevention and control methods and policy recommendations
In order to solve the problem of high HIV infection rate among MSM, the medical community has put forward a number of suggestions, including promoting safe sex, strengthening public education and providing HIV testing services in the community. In response to social stigma, UNAIDS also emphasizes the need to implement "sex-positive" policies to improve gender equality and promote the development of health education.
“How can we improve our understanding and support for MSM groups in the future to further reduce HIV infection rates?”
As awareness of HIV/AIDS grows, changes in social attitudes will help increase understanding and support for the MSM community. In this context, we should think about how, if ignorance and prejudice still exist, this will affect the new generation’s understanding of HIV and its prevention and control efforts.
