AEGiS-07IAC: Sources of information used and the adoption of safer sex among gay men.

7th International AIDS Conference

Florence, Italy — June 16-21, 1991

Sources of information used and the adoption of safer sex among gay men.

Int Conf AIDS 1991 Jun 16-21; 7:450 (abstract no. W.D.4248)
De Vroome E, Sandfort TH, Tielman R; Gay and Lesbian Studies Department, University of Utrecht, Netherlands

TABULAR DATA, SEE ABSTRACT VOLUME.

OBJECTIVE: Which sources of information regarding the prevention of HIV-infection have successively been used by Dutch homosexual men, and was the kind of information source related to the consistent adoption of safer sex.

METHODS: A cohort of 365 homosexual men was studied in '86, '87, '88, and '89, using mailed questionnaires. Data on behavior (6 months preceding each measurement and lifetime), and sources of information were collected. The time a respondent started and maintained to have safer sex was deduced. The data on information sources used were synchronized with this time of adoption of safer sex.

RESULTS: 50 Men (14%) had safer sex before the first measurement and afterwards. 95 Men (26%) adopted consistent safer sex from '86 on (early adopters). 30 Men (8%) were safer from '87 on, 34 men (9%) from '88 on, and 28 men (8%) from '89 on (late adopters). 128 Men (35%) had not adopted safer sex as of '89. Some developments in the sources of information are shown in the figure. Adoption of safer sex was related to the use of leaflets; early consistent adopters used these more often than later- or non-adopters (p less than .01).

CONCLUSION: It appears that AIDS-education reached a sizeable proportion of homosexual men initially. To motivate less innovative men in this respect, renewed and continuous efforts seem to be required, including the distribution of leaflets.

Keywords: AEGIS, Safe Sex, Homosexuality, Male, Homosexuality, HIV Infections, Adoption, Questionnaires, Human, Male, utilization, ICA7
910616
WD4248