More men are turning up at the offices of Family Planning Association of Jamaica (FAMPLAN) to get tested for HIV, signalling that more men are now ready to know their status.

This is according to Theresa Gaynor, assistant to the chief executive officer at FAMPLAN Jamaica.

"We find that there is a mixture of young and older persons coming forward to get tested. But since we started doing a radio commercial, we find that more men are coming in now than previously," Gaynor told The Gleaner yesterday, following the Kiwanis Club of downtown Kingston's weekly luncheon.

FAMPLAN is a non-profit organisation and operates two clinics in Kingston and St Ann, reaching an estimated 15,000 people. Services include contraceptive counselling, male and female sterilisation, pap smears, and pregnancy tests.

Results ready in minutes

The Beth Jacobs clinic in St Ann offers voluntary counselling and testing (VCT). The results are usually ready in minutes.

Rocquel Walker-Brown, project assistant at the St Ann clinic, said of the 82 people who were tested for HIV last month, 22 were men and 19 of the 64 persons who were tested in March were men.

"These figures are surprising because men usually rely on their partners to get tested and use the partner's results as a guide," said Walker-Brown.

The project assistant said men generally shy away from testing because they are afraid of visiting the doctor.

Meanwhile, Gaynor said some young people are making a conscious effort to protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. She also noted that youths who have healthy relationships with their parents are less likely to take risks.

"We also see some young people whose behavioural practice is totally different. So, it is an uphill battle against culture and cultural norms and the invincibility of persons," said Gaynor.

Anyone can become infected with HIV, which can lead to AIDS. There is no cure for AIDS, and it is a deadly disease.

Avoid HIV infection by:

Not having, vaginal, oral or anal sex.

Showing feelings without having sex by holding hands, kissing and touching.

Not injecting drugs or sharing needles or syringes.

Practise safer sex by:

Using a latex condom every time you have sex.

Getting tested for HIV and insisting that your partner do the same.

Sticking to one partner.

It helps persons to determine their HIV status.

HIV positive persons can find ways to get early treatment to live a longer, healthier life.

Persons can be motivated to remain negative.

VCT helps to promote safer sex behaviour.

VCT involves:

Pre-test counselling

Testing

Post-test counselling