Introduction
Down low is a term that means keep secret or private. It is a situation where men have sex with other men as well as with females. It has been established that this trend is common since not many men can afford to disclose their status to their partners of the opposite sex. This term is mainly used to refer to black men in the American perspective (MSM) who assume to be sexually straight but engage in sexual activities with male partners. Having the term referring to black men in America does not mean they are the only ones engaged in these relationships.
Homosexual heterosexuals are persons who have sexual partners from both gender. Studies have shown that this is a major cause of increased HIV infections. It is urged that most men do not use protection when having sex with other men thus has led to increased cases of HIV. This is usually propagated by the propaganda that only vaginal intercourse can spread HIV. This is a misunderstanding since HIV can also be transmitted through anal sex. Goggin (2009) asserts that a man having unprotected sex with their male and female partners is a scenario that is to blame for increased cases of HIV infect ions. The problem is quite big since most men do not admit of having multiple partners with whom they engage in unprotected sex. Therefore, research on this issue is necessary to establish a lasting solution otherwise the disease with continue spreading.
During the year 2002, it was established that the main cause of HIV was sex with other men. Five studies conducted in Los Angeles, California showed that 33% of men who were HIV positive had had sex with a man whereas 16% 0f HIV negative men had also had sex with a man. This shows that the chances of getting infected with HIV aids after sleeping with a man are higher that the chances of coming out healthy. There is a common perception that anal sex is not prone to HIV which is misleading many people.
There is a problem in giving assistance to these people since most of them do not disclose their relationship secret. This is because they fear that the society will stigmatize them. Needless to say, most men who engage in these relationships have female partners who they can easily infect especially among married couples. As such, there is need to urgently address this issue so as to reduce the increased cases of infection. The risk is higher for women who are in sexual relationship with bisexual men since their risk of infection is almost 100% if their partners get infected.
The causes of sexual orientation are largely based on a person attitude and feelings towards a certain gender. However, various theories have been raised to argue the causes of this situation. Kinsey(1948), suggest that the issue of homosexuality can arise from psychological issues and experiences of a person. He argued that heterosexuality would automatically set in in the event that the experiences were not there. Most men who engage in such relationships try to preserve their feelings and the experiences whereas at the same time they feel a desire to father children and become parents. As such, it becomes important for them to engage in male and female sexual relationships. The experiences that make people to be homosexual heterosexuals are varied. Sexual harassment from the opposite gender among children can make them hate any sexual association with the opposite gender thus only maintain only necessary sexual contact. This is the major cause of the down low problem.
Another cause of the down low problem is negative influence from peers. It is evident that the men who engage in this activity bare not decoded on the gender that should attract them sexually. This can mean that they might be following the action of others mainly celebrity stars in movies and other media. Men decide to experiment sex with other men while at the same time maintaining their girlfriends. The result will be men with a down low problem.
The societal perspective of the People with the Down Low problem differs according to culture, religion location, and period. Carson (2007) established that most societies have generally accepted heterosexual relationships aimed at procreation as opposed to homosexuals. Most parts of the world began accepting mixed sexual relations by 1970. In the USA for instance, it is upon persona discretion to choose on the type of sexual relation to engage in. the society has accepted both heterosexuality and homosexuality. However, this comes with a limitation of religion where some people are unable to withstand such relationships due to their religious beliefs. This is a major setback to down low problem since culprits are seen as outcasts who do not belong. In African and Asian countries, it is a taboo to engage in such relations. They argue that acceptance of combined homosexuality and heterosexuality undermines the beliefs and traditions. Acceptance levels are high in the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Apart from the USA, down low problem has been prevalent in Canada where increased cases of HIV infections have their roots to homosexual heterosexual relationships. This is because most men do not use protection like condoms when engaging in anal sex with other men. Canada has had a good share of incidence where men infect their partners of the opposite sex. In 2011, bisexual men and other MSM comprised a higher percentage of 46.6% of new HIV infections in Canada that was a little higher than 44.1% in2008. This shows that the problem is so destructive and should be dealt with at all levels. Women who were infected due to these relationships also went higher in Canada. This was common among youths who engage in casual sexual relationship and also among married couples.
Public health management corporation (PHMC) is a US based nonprofit making organization that serves around 200, 000 people each year. It has more than 70 branches with hundreds of employees that moves around the country providing services. Its main mission is to ensure that the population has access to health care and that t5he society is free from the down low malpractice. It fights the issue of down low and its contribution to HIV transmission among the American population. It is the largest and most comprehensive health organization in the US.
Its roles include fighting HIV/AIDS, creating a society that is free from HIV, educating thee people on the dangers down low and its contribution to HIV transmission and also to encouraging people to refrain from down low. ‘’ PHMC has a long-standing commitment to community-based HIV/AIDS research and policy analysis. For the past 23 years, PHMC’s Research and Evaluation Group has conducted and participated in a number of HIV prevention and intervention research studies that have influenced innovative outreach and education strategies across the country. “ it also offers drugs to members of the public as well as supporting special groups in the society and ensure that the people have access to basic health care. “We provide services, such as support groups, outreach and nutrition counseling for our patients, many of whom may not go for such services in a traditional office setting.”
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network is an organization that strives to eliminate HIV/ AIDS in the society by fighting factors that accelerate HIV transmission. These factors include the use of drugs, down slow, poverty and vulnerability. It provides services such as advice, drugs to the infected and educating people on the effects of HIV and how it is spread and also how to protect oneself from the infection. PHMC is in a better position to fight against down low and HIV transmission than the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network since it has more employees and funds at its disposal. It thus covers a wide population.
The book The Guide to Living with HIV Infection written by John G. Bartlett and published by Hopkins publisher is a book that tells more about the HIV and aid epidemic. The author is interested with people’s reaction towards HIV infection. He says that most of the time people react to the infection with anger, depression, guilt, fear and uncertainty. “Nearly everyone with HIV infection has, to varying extents and at different times, reacted to the disease with anger, depression, uncertainty, fatigue, fear, and guilt. These feelings do not occur in stages; they come in no order. Some people have several or all of the feelings at once. All the feelings are part of human nature and are reasonable reactions to HIV infection.’’ He goes ahead and explores how down low men contribute to new HIV infections. He notices that down lows contribute equally to him transmission as heterosexual men.
The 10th Anniversary of the Trans Health Conference by Kelly Nowicki was published in 23 June 2011. The article describes the HIV situation and its relationship to down low. It summarizes many key demographic social and health issues that face the transgender community in the US. The author is more interested on the finding of the report that the rates of HIV transmission are higher in the transgender community. ‘’ rates of HIV within the transgender community are over four times higher than the national average, with rates even higher among transgender people of color’’.
Johnson Ramon investigates the origin of down low. He notes that down low is seen across all ethnic groups. It is not a problem that is exclusively for the blacks (Johnson, 2001). This website can help one to figure out basic truths about down low. He however notices that researchers should not take down low as the main cause of high African-American HIV infection rates. He says, "The practice of straight men secretly having sex with men is seen across all ethnic groups. While black men and women have higher rates of HIV infection than other ethnic groups, they also report fewer risk behaviors, suggesting researchers should look elsewhere to understand the disparity’’. (http://gaylife.about.com/od/thedownlow/a/downlowdlman.htm) .
Organizing seminars to educate people on the importance of maintaining one sexual relationship can greatly help in addressing the problem of down low and HIV transmission. People should be taught on the importance of maintaining one sexual partner and if that is not possible, they should use protection during sexual intercourse. People should also be encouraged to know their HIV status so that they know exactly where they stand and how to manage their health (Biesma, 2009). Also, if culture and ethics are observed, the issue of down low will be no more. People will stick to a single partner and so that those who realize that they are infected will not be motivated to spread the infection by engaging in sex with other people. If all this is done, the issue of down low will be no more and rates of HIV infection will eventually be reduced.
As a future health I will educate the local people on the adverse effects of down low. I will try as much as possible to discourage the local people from maintaining several sexual relationships since I believe it is wrong. I will encourage them to only have sex with people of different sex and stick to their partners. Nationally, I will financially support organizations that fight down low and HIV/ AIDS. I will join hands with any organization whose mission is to reduce cases of down low. In the international arena, I will advise my government to partner with other governments in fighting down low since it contributes to most cases of HIV infection.
Conclusion
Down low is a problem that actually exists in the not only in the current American society but all over the world. It plays a major role in the transmission of HIV/AIDS. People should devote more resources into the fight against down low and HIV. This practice should be discouraged at all costs. Individuals, organizations and nations should discourage down low thus helping to reduce the rate of HIV transmission.
References
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Shipherd, J. C., Mizock, L., Maguen, S., & Green, K. E. (2012). Male-to-Female Transgender Veterans and VA Health Care Utilization. International Journal of Sexual Health.
