AEGiS-09IAC: Early intervention for HIV infection among gay men in two secondary AIDS epicenters.

9th International AIDS Conference


Berlin, Germany — June 6-11, 1993

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Early intervention for HIV infection among gay men in two secondary AIDS epicenters.

Int Conf AIDS 1993 Jun 6-11; 9:118 (abstract no. WS-D15-1)
Stall R, Ekstrand M, Hoff C, Paul J, Catania J, Coates T; Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, (CAPS), Univ. California-San Francisco.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of early intervention treatment for HIV infection among gay/bisexual men in two secondary AIDS epicenters in the United States (Portland, Oregon and Tucson, Arizona).

METHODS: Gay men were sampled using two methods: 1) a list-frame household telephone sample (N = 712); and 2) a convenience sample of gay bar patrons (N = 1914). Participation rates were high for both methods in both cities (Household: 74%--Portland, 98%--Tucson; Bar: 66%--Portland, 64%--Tucson). FINDINGS: Mutually exclusive rates for not obtaining early HIV treatment are: TABULAR DATA, SEE ABSTRACT VOLUME. We identified attitudinal differences between self-identified HIV+ men (n = 409) who received and did not receive treatment for HIV infection. Men who received treatment were more likely to believe community norms supported antiviral treatment, had lower concern about antiviral toxicity, had higher perceived social support for taking antivirals and were more likely to believe that antiviral treatment slowed disease progression (all t-test p values < .001).

CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 1/3 of gay men in both cities do not know their current HIV status and so cannot access early care if they need it. Beliefs about HIV treatment efficacy and social support for undergoing treatment differ between those HIV+ men who obtain medical care and those who do not. AIDS prevention efforts need to focus on HIV testing and community norms around early HIV treatment to delay the onset of AIDS symptoms among HIV+ men.

Keywords: AEGIS, Homosexuality, Male, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Bisexuality, Social Support, Antiviral Agents, Prevalence, Early Intervention (Education), Oregon, Arizona, United States, Human, Male, ICA9KWDaegis,homosexuality,male,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hivinfections,bisexuality,socialsupport,antiviralagents,prevalence,earlyintervention(education),oregon,arizona,unitedstates,human,male,ica9
930606
WSD151

Copyright © 1993 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.