Int Conf AIDS. 1996 Jul 7-12;11(1):174 (abstract no. Mo.D.1698). Unique
Objective: To describe a non-exclusively homosexual population tested in
a non-institutional gay community health center. To estimate the
positive prevalence and at-risk behavior frequency compared to the level
of knowledge of HIV prevention. To stimulate at-risk behavior reduction.
Methods: 155 subjects had been anonymously and voluntarily tested over a
26 month period 1993-1995). Every examination was accompanied by pre and
post-test counseling. The counselors had filled out the study population
features with standard questionnaires. Results: The study pool consists
of 83.9% males and 15.5% females, plus one male-to-female transgender.
We have 70.3% homosexuals, 14.8% heterosexuals and 14.2% bisexuals.
Average age is 29 years and 7 months old: the youngest is 19 years old,
the oldest is 60. In regards to HIV prevention education level, 40.6% of
the sample turned out to be exhaustively informed, 42.6% to be
sufficiently informed and only 16.8% to be scarcely informed. The
reasons for being tested are 33.5% for fear of having been exposed,
12.3% for routine examination and the remaining part for other reasons
anxiety, partner's protection, positive partners). 72.9% of the study
population had at-risk behavior, of these, 40.6% had it occasionally and
31% had it habitually. Sexual at-risk behavior is 29.7% of unsafe oral
sex, 21.9% of unsafe penetrative intercourse and 11% of both oral and
penetrative. We have 3.9% of declared refusal of safer-sex. 6 tested
positive which is 3.9% of the sample. The positives are all males (1
bisexual and 5 homosexuals), 3 of them were scarcely informed and just
one was exhaustively informed. Conclusions: The study population can be
considered a selected high-risk sexual behavior population, both
homo-bisexuals and heterosexuals, with a high rate of positives. We
confirm no connection between the HIV prevention knowledge level and
at-risk behavior, but the positive status seems to be related to a lack
of information on prevention The 6 who tested positive had a high
frequency of unsafe penetrative sex compared to the general population.
*Counseling *Homosexuality, Female *Homosexuality, Male *HIV
Infections/DIAGNOSIS *Sex Behavior
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