AEGiS-09IAC: Bisexuals (UN) identity and HIV spread in Portugal.

9th International AIDS Conference


Berlin, Germany — June 6-11, 1993

Print this Article


Bisexuals (UN) identity and HIV spread in Portugal.

Int Conf AIDS 1993 Jun 6-11; 9:128 (abstract no. WS-D25-3)
Mourao MV, Teles LC; Universidade de Coimbra, Fac. Economia, Lisboa, Portugal.

1. Epidemiological Portuguese data reveals that the incidence among Heterosexuals is 30% of all AIDS cases 1992. 2. This figure is 4 times highest that the average for the European Model of AIDS.

OBJECTIVES: To identify patterns of (Bi) sexual behavior and HIV strategies among Portuguese men.

METHODS: Qualitative approach with depth interviews was used to draw a questionnaire. Data analysis is drawn out of 161 Bisexuals 101 Homosexuals and 91 Heterosexuals.

RESULTS: A large majority of gay men (60%) said to have had also sexual contacts with women during the last 12 months. 7.7% of heterosexual respondents declare to engage frequently in anal and oral sex with men, but don't feel to be gay or bisexual. Overall, most bisexual men 77.8% declare to be more intensively gay than heterosexual. Having had STD's in life has been reported by 30.8% of Bisexuals and by 33% of Homosexuals. Significant differences P < 0.05 between bisexuals having had multiple STD's where as exclusively gay not; this fact is correlated with having female and male sexual partners. Self reported HIV incidence among the bisexual group was 10% and 8.6% among exclusively homosexual men. Efforts and strategies to prevent AIDS are more intense in the exclusive gay cluster, than in the bisexuals group. When considering the bisexuals who consider themselves heterosexual strategies to prevent HIV are statistically significant (lower) than the bisexual average.

CONCLUSIONS: Bisexuality in its diverse patterns seems to be on floating on portuguese sexual interactions. Sexual identity seems to play an important role on the self protection of HIV. Bisexual Partners seem to play an important role in the Portuguese Epidemiological AIDS model.

Keywords: AEGIS, Bisexuality, HIV, Homosexuality, Male, Sex Behavior, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, United Nations, Homosexuality, Sexual Partners, HIV Infections, Heterosexuality, HIV Seroprevalence, HIV-1, Questionnaires, Gender Identity, HIV Seropositivity, HIV Antibodies, Portugal, Human, Male, Female, ICA9
930606
WSD253

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