Document 2081
 DOCN  M94A2081
 TI    Unprotected sex & HIV positive young men: is it ever ok?
 DT    9412
 AU    Goggin M; Rosenthal D; LaTrobe University, Australia.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):385 (abstract no. PD0146). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94370494
 AB    OBJECTIVE: To describe the changes in the sexual behaviours of HIV
       positive young men over a one year period examining the factors
       influencing their behaviour particularly unprotected sex. METHOD: 101
       HIV positive young gay men, aged 17 to 30 years (mean 26.0), completed a
       questionnaire regarding their sexual activity with casual and regular
       partners of varying HIV serostatus. Time since diagnosis, health status,
       history of prostitution, current drug and alcohol use and attachment to
       the gay and HIV community and other factors were examined. One year
       later, 82 of these men completed the same questionnaire and, in taped
       interviews, were asked about their sexual experiences and attitudes
       towards unprotected sex. RESULTS: Unprotected anal intercourse with
       partners known to be HIV negative or of unknown HIV status increased
       from 15% to 33% over the year. At the first stage, unprotected sex was
       mostly with anonymous and casual partners which was predicted by high
       number of partners, high drug use, recent HIV diagnosis and prostitution
       history. At the second stage, the majority of the increasing level of
       unprotected sex, which was predicted by high attachment to the gay and
       HIV community, was occurring within long term relationships of
       discordant HIV status. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: While the majority
       consistently practiced safe sex, those engaging in unprotected sex did
       so mostly in long term relationships or in one-off anonymous encounters,
       typically in gay saunas. When in relationships, young men made complex
       choices about sexual behaviours and their consequences often out of
       intense love, trust and mutual consent. In contrast, disclosure of HIV
       status to anonymous partners was rare. Generally, an anonymous partners'
       willingness to engage in unsafe sex was interpreted as acceptance of the
       consequences. Different educational strategies (anonymous
       sex/relationships) are discussed.
 DE    Adolescence  Adult  Australia  Condoms  *Homosexuality  Human  HIV
       Seropositivity/*TRANSMISSION  *Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice  Male
       Risk Factors  *Sex Behavior  Sex Education  Sexual Partners  Social
       Environment  Truth Disclosure  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).