AEGiS-11IAC: The men's survey: HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors of 1406 gay and bisexual men in the Philadelphia region.

11th International AIDS Conference

Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

The men's survey: HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors of 1406 gay and bisexual men in the Philadelphia region.

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:457 (abstract no. Pub.C.1121)
Whyte J, Green E, Bartlett C; AIDS Information Network, Philadelphia, PA, USA. E-mail: bartlett@critpath.org. Fax: (215) 575-1122.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the factors which contribute to these men's continuing behaviors which put them at risk for HIV transmission; and, to find out the factors behind a decision to receive an HIV antibody test.

METHODS: 1406 gay and bisexual men were surveyed in English and Spanish language surveys through gay community organizations, bars, and street outreach. Questions focused on demographics; HIV knowledge, attitudes about health, safer sex, and personal efficacy; serotesting and serostatus; and whether or not a variety of sexual behaviors had been performed in the last month and year with primary and non-primary partners. Knowledge and attitude scores were used to predict serotesting and patterns of anal and oral sexual behavior in a stepwise logistic regression. Demographic variables were added to significant predictors in the above model and submitted to a multivariate categorical data analysis.

RESULTS: 1. Demographics added little to the predictive value of knowledge and attitudes in most models. 2. "Sexual behavior profiles," verified by correspondence analysis, were used as the dependent behavioral variables. 3. Both serotesting and unprotected oral and anal sex were predicted from knowledge and attitude scores.

CONCLUSIONS: 1. Profiles of sexual behavior based on respondents' role preferences and perceptions of risk are useful constructs for behavioral prediction. 2. Although demographic variables are predictive of many behaviors in univariate models, their effects appear to be mediated via knowledge and attitudes. 3. Sexual behavioral profiles differ with primary and non-primary partners. 4. Predictive models of serotesting, and unprotected oral and anal sex, were developed which reaffirm the predictive importance of a number of attitudes.

Keywords: AEGIS, Bisexuality, Homosexuality, Male, HIV, Safe Sex, Sex Behavior, Data Collection, Culture, Attitude, HIV Infections, Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Knowledge, Questionnaires, HIV Seropositivity, Attitude to Health, HIV Seronegativity, HIV-1, HIV Antibodies, Philadelphia, Human, Male, immunology, ICA11

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PubC1121