If I am going to talk about the role of men, if I am going to ask questions of other men, then I had better be sure that I am asking myself the same questions. Since this is World AIDS Day, let's start at the international level. There are many good reasons. Let us look at some of them. Let's put our heads together and make a list.
Men are generally less likely to pay attention to their sexual health and safety than women.
Men are more likely than women to use alcohol and other substances that lead to unsafe sex and increase the risk of HIV transmission. On average, men have more sex partners than women. HIV is more easily transmitted sexually from men to women than vice versa. Most sex between men is hidden. If men don't talk about it openly, they are either not facing or not sharing their experience of the dangers of unprotected sex.