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Making It Count 4
Making it count 4 is the new strategic framework for working with gay, bisexual and all men who have sex with men (MSM) in England. Since 1998, there have been three previous versions, and this is the latest in a series of high quality, well researched and evidenced based strategic frameworks. It has been approved by the Department of Health and has been written collaboratively by CHAPS partners and is authored by Sigma research. This strategy was launched on March 8th 2011 at the annual CHAPS conference in Manchester and was introduced by Dr Ford Hickson of Sigma Research. Making it Count is the framework underpinning the CHAPS partnership and will be followed with more briefing sheets as well as an interactive field guide to Making it count, which is the absolute ‘how to’ guide for MSM health promotion.
Making it count 4 is a statement of our intent to positively work with men who have sex with men (MSM). We will increase the motivation and power that enable men to make precautionary choices about the sex they have. Making it count is also a statement of both intent and action for a host of highly reputable third sector agencies across England and Making it Count is a genuinely collaborative effort by these agencies. New to the strategy are the 10 choices which will enable health promotion providers a framework for managing risk, choice and sexual behaviour with MSM. Making it Count training for professionals will soon be coming to the South West and will be hosted jointly by The Eddystone Trust and Terence Higgins Trust.
For details about this training, or for more information about CHAPS, please contact info@eddystone.org.uk or call 0800 328 3508
| Choice 1 | Have an STI check-up for sexually transmitted infections before the next sexual partner (including HIV if not already diagnosed with it) | OR | Take no action |
| Choice 2 When men have diagnosed HIV Infection) | Take antiretroviral treatment | OR | Not |
| Choice 3 (When men have an opportunity for a new partner) | Decline or defer the next opportunity for sex with a new partner | OR | Have sex with a new partner at the next opportunity |
| Choice 4 | Telling partners about HIV / STI status | OR | Saying nothing (or misleading) about HIV / STI status |
| Choice 5 (If men have a regular sexual partner) | Monogamous relationship, only have sex with each other | OR | Sexually-open relationship, also have sex with other people |
| Choice 6 (If men have sex) | Kissing, rubbing, masturbating, fellatio (i.e. sex other than anal intercourse) | OR | Have anal intercourse (as well as other kinds of sex) |
| Choice 7 (If men have anal intercourse) | Using condom and lubricant for anal intercourse | OR | Not using a condom and lubricant for anal intercourse |
| Choice 8 (If men have fellatio or anal intercourse with or without a condom) | Ejaculation outside the body | OR | Ejaculate inside the mouth or rectum |
| Choice 9 (If men have receptive anal intercourse) | Avoiding Poppers during receptive anal intercourse | OR | Using Poppers during receptive anal intercourse |
| Choice 10 (If men do not have HIV and are sexually exposed to it) | Swiftly seek post-exposure prophylaxis | OR | Do nothing |
