Elford J, Bolding GJ, Maguire M, Sherr L; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 1998; 12: 365 (abstract no. 23119).

Dept. Primary Care and Population Sciences, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, UK.

BACKGROUND: To what extent do gay men in relationships adopt "negotiated safety" as a risk reduction strategy? To examine this, we conducted a survey among gay men to measure the frequency of unprotected anal intercourse with both regular and casual partners, and to ascertain whether the men knew the HIV status of their sexual partner for unprotected intercourse. METHODS: In September 1997, a baseline questionnaire was completed by gay men attending one of 4 gyms in central London prior to the introduction of a peer-led HIV prevention initiative (4 gym project). Subjects were asked if they had had anal intercourse (with or without a condom) in the previous 3 months; unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) in the previous 3 months; number of partners, type of partner ("regular" or "causal") and the HIV status of their partner(s) for UAI. RESULTS: Of the 996 gay men participating in the survey, 732 (73%) reported anal intercourse (with or without a condom) in the previous 3 months, while 254 (26%) reported unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) in the same period. Of these 254 men, more than half reported UAI with a regular partner only (142; 57%) while a further 21 (8%) reported UAI with both a regular as well as casual partner. Among the 142 men who reported UAI with a regular partner only, 94 (66%) knew the HIV status of their partner for UAI (79 HIV negative & 15 HIV positive partners) while the remaining 48 men (34%) did not know the HIV status of their partner for UAI. CONCLUSION: The majority of gay men reported unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with a regular rather than a casual partner. However, one-third of men reporting UAI with a regular partner only did not know that person's HIV status. HIV prevention programmes should continue to target gay men in relationships.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Condoms
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Homosexuality, Male
• Humans
• London
• Male
• Questionnaires
• Sexual Partners

Other ID:

• 98392641

UI: 102228543

From Meeting Abstracts