Abesha Care HIV/AIDS Initiative

Content Source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Divisions of HIV/AIDS Prevention
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention

Questions and Answers: Men on the Down Low

What are the origins of this term down low and what does it
refer to?

The most generic definition of the term down low, or DL, is “to keep
something private,” whether that refers to information or activity.

The term is often used to describe the behavior of men who have
sex with other men as well as women and who do not identify as gay
or bisexual. These men may refer to themselves as being “on the
down low,” “on the DL,” or “on the low low.” The term has most
often been associated with African American men. Although the
term originated in the African American community, the behaviors
associated with the term are not new and not specific to black men
who have sex with men.

What are the sexual risk factors associated with being on
the down low?

Much of the media attention about men on the down low and
HIV/AIDS has focused on the concept of a transmission bridge
between bisexual men and heterosexual women. Some women
have become infected through sexual contact with bisexual men.1
However, many questions have not yet been answered, including:

Do bisexually active men account for more cases of HIV
infection in women than do men who inject drugs?

Are bisexually active men more likely than other groups of
men to be HIV infected?

What proportion of HIV-infected men who have sex with male
and female partners identify with the down low?

Do men on the down low engage in fewer or more sexual risk
behaviors than men who are not on the down low?

Do people other than bisexually active men who do not
disclose their behavior to sex partners identify with the down
low?

What are the implications for HIV prevention?

The phenomenon of men on the down low has gained much
attention in recent years; however, there are no data to confirm or
refute publicized accounts of HIV risk behavior associated with
these men. What is clear is that women, men, and children of
minority races and ethnicities are disproportionately affected by HIV
and AIDS and that all persons need to protect themselves and
others from getting or transmitting HIV.

What steps is CDC taking to address the down low?

CDC and its many research partners have several projects in the
field that are exploring the HIV-related sexual risks of men, including
men who use the term down low to refer to themselves. The results
of these studies will be published in medical journals and circulated
through press releases in the next few years as each study is
concluded and the data analyzed. CDC has also funded several
projects that provide HIV education, counseling, and testing in
minority racial and ethnic communities. CDC’s research and on-the-
ground HIV prevention efforts will continue as more information
about the demographics and HIV risk behaviors of men who do and
men who do not identify with the down low becomes available.

REFERENCE
CDC. HIV and AIDS: Are You at Risk?

Content Source:
Divisions of HIV/AIDS Prevention
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention