Largest Canadian Study of Gay, Bi and Queer Men Launches from Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal

published on March 9, 2017

Vancouver, BC (March 9, 2017)—The largest bio-behavioural Canadian study of gay, bi and queer men (including trans men) has just launched from three major cities: Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. The Engage Study will help create a clearer picture of the evolving epidemic among this at-risk group to inform more effective prevention programs.

A team of leaders in HIV prevention from across the country is behind the Engage Study, including more than 40 researchers, community members and partners from gay, bi and queer men’s community groups. While in some populations new HIV infections are declining, rates remain disproportionately high among gay, bi, queer and other men who have sex with men (GBM), who account for 57% of all new HIV infections in Canada.

Engage builds on the experience of the Momentum Health Study, which the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) launched in Metro Vancouver in 2012 to measure changes in HIV risk behavior; awareness of Treatment as Prevention, or TasP (earlier access to HIV testing and treatment to reduce transmission); and access to HIV treatment.

On consistent, sustained treatment, an individual living with HIV achieves an undetectable viral load, which improves their health while chances of transmitting the virus drop to negligible. This is the concept behind the made-in-BC TasP strategy, pioneered by BC-CfE Director Dr. Julio Montaner.

Some of the Momentum study’s key findings, published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, include:

Understanding of TasP® is increasing for HIV-negative GBM in Vancouver and is approaching that of HIV-positive GBM.
HIV-positive GBM are reporting more risky sex, but may be relying on other HIV prevention measures to reduce transmission risk such as seroadaptive strategies—including asking partners’ about their HIV status.
Among HIV-negative GBM, condom use is affected by factors such as substance use and HIV treatment awareness. In their last sexual encounter, 56% of respondents used a condom; however, when crystal meth was consumed condoms were used only one out of every five times.
Mental health is an important consideration for GBM. More than one-half of GBM reported any lifetime doctor-diagnosed mental health disorder, compared with one-third of Canadians who have reported a mental health or substance use disorder.

Find research summaries from the Momentum Study online: http://www.cfenet.ubc.ca/research/momentum/research-summaries

Similar to the Momentum study, Engage will use respondent-driven sampling (RDS), a recruitment approach that can provide a more accurate representation of the general GBM population. To be eligible, men will have to receive a recruitment coupon from a friend, sex partner or other acquaintance.

“HIV has long impacted gay, bi and other men who have sex with men and, despite advances in treatment and prevention, this population makes up more than half of new infections,” said Dr. David Moore, BC-CfE Research Scientist and Co-Principal Investigator on the Engage Study. “We know we have the tools; now we must make them accessible and acceptable to the people who need them. Engage will help policymakers understand how access to health services for gay and bisexual men can affect their risk for acquiring or transmitting HIV.”

“This critical research investment gives us a real opportunity to improve the health of gay, bi and queer men,” said Dr. Trevor Hart of Ryerson University and Nominated Principal Investigator for Engage. “Our outstanding team of experts and leaders in HIV prevention has been intently focused on creating this valuable study to inform issues ranging from sexual health to mental health.”

About the Engage Study
Engage (engage-men.ca) is a five-year Canadian collaboration between researchers and community-based organizations on HIV and sexual health among gay, bi, queer men (including trans men), and other men who have sex with men (GBM). Its three primary aims are: to provide research evidence to inform HIV and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) prevention initiatives; to build capacity for a pan-Canadian network on HIV and sexual health research for GBM; and to enhance community-researcher collaboration and knowledge exchange. Engage is jointly funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, CanFAR (Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research) and the Ontario HIV Treatment Network.

About the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
The BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE—http://cfenet.ubc.ca) is Canada’s largest HIV/AIDS research, treatment and education facility and is internationally recognized as an innovative world leader in combating HIV/AIDS and related diseases. BC-CfE is based at St. Paul’s Hospital, Providence Health Care, a teaching hospital of the University of British Columbia. The BC-CfE works in close collaboration with key provincial stakeholders, including government, health authorities, health care providers, academics from other institutions, and the community to decrease the health burden of HIV and AIDS. By developing, monitoring and disseminating comprehensive research and treatment programs for HIV and related illnesses, the BC-CfE helps improve the health of British Columbians.

For additional information or to request interviews, please contact:
Caroline Dobuzinskis, BC-CfE
Cell: 604.366.6540, Phone: 604.682.2344 ext. 66536
Email: cdobuzin@cfenet.ubc.ca

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Epidemiology and Population Health

Momentum

BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

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Largest Canadian Study of Gay, Bi and Queer Men Launches from Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal

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