Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:2 (abstract no. Mo.03) de Wit J; Dept. of Social and Organizational Psychology, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Fax: 31-30-253-7584. E-mail: wit@fsw.ruu.nl.
Summary: The AIDS crisis is not over' was the title of a manifestation in the Museum of Modern Art in Amsterdam in the early 1990s. Given that this outcry is still valid to date, it is also the leading thought of this presentation on the HIV epidemic among young gay men. It will be argued that in industrialised nations, most importantly the US, AIDS is still a major problem among homosexual men. Within the transmission group homosexual men, in particular the young, are at risk for acquiring HIV infection. Epidemiological and behavioural information will be shown which demonstrates the extent to which young gay men are at risk. Further, it will be argued that difficulties arise when findings from epidemiological and behavioral studies have to be translated into health education messages that can be communicated to young gay men. To design effective interventions, studies are needed that specifically address behavioural determinants, using explicit (social psychological) theoretical frameworks. It has been found that interventions derived from (established) theoretical models are more successful in changing high risk behaviours and relevant behavioural determinants than regular (informational) interventions. These successful interventions have in common that they combine the necessary provision of risk-information with motivation and skills training components. Illustrative studies will be presented and implications for health education, research and policy in the field of HIV/AIDS-prevention among young gay men will be discussed.
Keywords: AEGIS, Homosexuality, Male, HIV Infections, Risk-Taking, Disease Outbreaks, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Homosexuality, Health Education, Risk, Interpersonal Relations, United States, Human, Male, ICA11
