HIV/AIDS: M-Track Survey

Since the start of the HIV epidemic in Canada in the early 1980s, men who have sex with men have been the group  most severely affected by the spread of HIV, representing the highest number of cumulative AIDS cases and HIV diagnoses at the end of 2005.

• Overview of M-Track
• Participant Eligibility
• Questionnaire Details
• M-Track Links

Did you know? In Canada, the community of men who have sex with men accounted for:

• 76.3% of cumulative reported AIDS cases as of December 2005,
• 68.8% of cumulative reported positive HIV test reports among adult males as of December 2005; and
• An estimated 45% of all new HIV infections in Canada in 2005.

Overview of M-Track

M-Trackis a second generation surveillance system -- regularly repeated surveys conducted at different sites across Canada -- uncovering Canadian trends in HIV, viral hepatitis (hepatitis C), sexually transmitted infections and related risk behaviours among gay, bisexual men, two-spirit men, and other men who have sex with men.

M-Track generates comparable data on HIV and sexual behaviours -- across the country and over time. The information collected and generated by M-Track will be used by local, provincial and national health organizations to improve the planning of their prevention programs and activities.

Sites are chosen based on feasibility, needs assessment, local interest, and expertise to carry out the study. It is particularly important to get a range of sites participating because it allows us to examine the diversity of risk behaviours in communities across Canada, including smaller population centres and communities within larger centres.

M-Track is just one of a series of studies that are being conducted to help us all better understand the HIV/AIDS epidemic and to support the ongoing development and improvement of prevention programs.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is focusing our resources on populations who may have at-risk characteristics so that changes in the rates of infection and behaviours that come before infection are more easily captured.

Participant Eligibility

Men who have ever had sex with another man and who are at least 16 years old (age limit depends on provincial requirements) are eligible to participate in the periodic survey and are limited to one participation annually.

Participation in the M-Track survey is anonymous and completely voluntary. Men are recruited from various venues, such as bars, clubs, social organizations, festivals and circuit parties.

Questionnaire Details

The M-Track questionnaire was created by a working group of experts from across Canada, including individuals who were instrumental in the Sex Now surveys, the Ontario Men's Survey and Montréal's Omega Cohort.

The core questionnaire contains questions on sexual behaviours, HIV and STI testing behaviours and drug use.

Using the core questionnaire in all sites ensures comparability across the country.  Each surveying site has the opportunity to add their own questions to address local concerns.

M-Tracks Links

• Sex Now  a survey of gay men living in British Columbia used to estimate HIV prevalence and to measure factors associated with new infections.
• Sigma Research for reports and survey findings from the United Kingdom.
• The Vanguard Project a study of HIV rates and risk factors in a cohort of young gay and bisexual men in the Greater Vancouver area.
• ARGUS for the Montréal component of M-Track.
• Lambda  - the Ontario components of M-Track.
• An overview of second-generation surveillance systems