Mao L, Van de Ven P, Prestage G; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).

Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. WePeC6056.

National Centre in HIV Social Research, Sydney, Australia

Background: Behavioural surveys of gay Asian men in Sydney were conducted twice; 1999 and 2002. Rates of HIV testing and trends in unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) were examined. Data were compared with 1999 and 2002 surveys which recruited from the broader population of Sydney gay men and which showed (as internationally) significant increases in UAI. Methods: Cross-sectional self-complete questionnaires were used with recruitment at gay events and in gay social and sex-on-premises venues frequented by large numbers of gay Asian men. Results: In 1999, 319 gay men of Asian background participated (response 77%) and 457 in 2002 (response 73%). In 2002, self-report HIV status was 74% HIV-negative, 3% HIV-positive, and 23% unknown status (no significant change from 1999). The proportion of men without HIV test results was significantly higher than in Sydney gay community overall: 6% (p<.001). Main reasons for not testing were not wanting to know and self-perception of low risk. Over time, the proportion of gay Asian men who reported any UAI with regular partners (in the previous six months) did not change significantly: 28% in 1999; 24% in 2002. Similarly, rates of any UAI with casual partners remained steady: 16% in 1999; 14% in 2002. From logistic regression, one factor alone (more extensive engagement in esoteric practices: fisting, sadomasochism, group sex, rimming) was independently associated with risk practice. Conclusions: Rates of UAI among gay Asian men in Sydney have remained steady in recent years. This finding speaks to a certain resilience in this minority group which is resisting changing norms in the broader Sydney gay community. Risk is independently associated with the subcultural phenomena of esoteric practices, highlighting that risk in this population, as in others, has more to do with the sexual cultures in which men are embedded rather than individual-level differences.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Asian Continental Ancestry Group
• Culture
• Data Collection
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Homosexuality, Male
• Humans
• Male
• Questionnaires

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0039765

UI: 102283981

From Meeting Abstracts