AEGiS-13IAC: HIV optimism does not explain the increase in high risk behaviour among London gay men in the year 2000.

13th International AIDS Conference

Durban, South Africa - July 9-July 14, 2000

HIV optimism does not explain the increase in high risk behaviour among London gay men in the year 2000.

Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:61 (abstract no.. LBPeD7110)

Elford J, Bolding G, Maguire M, Sherr L
Royal Free and University College Medical School, Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences, London, United Kingdom. Fax: +44 20 7794 1224, E-mail: elford@)rfhsm.ac.uk.

BACKGROUND: Has optimism around new HIV drug therapies led to an increase in unsafe sex among gay men? To answer this question, a study was undertaken between March 1998-February 2000 among gay men in London to monitor changes in their sexual risk behaviour and to examine HIV optimism.

METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire was completed by gay men attending central London gyms in March 1998 (n= 1000), March 1999 (n=800) and February 2000 (n=800). At each time-point, information was sought on HIV status, unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) in the previous 3 months and agreement or disagreement with two optimism statements (i) "I am less worried about HIV now that treatments have improved" (ii) "I believe that new drug therapies make people with HIV less infectious".

RESULTS: Between 1998-2000 there was an increase in the percentage of men reporting UAI with a casual partner of unknown HIV status: HIV negative men, 4.1% to 8.7% (p<0.01); never-tested men 2.5% to 7.1% (p<0.05); HIV positive men (not in a relationship) 7.4% to 17.5% (p=0.09). In all 3 surveys the majority of men (>66%) did not agree with either the "improved treatments" nor the "less infectious" optimism statements ie most men were not optimistic in the light of new HIV drug therapies. The increase in the percentage of men reporting status unknown UAI with a casual partner was seen in both men who were optimistic and those who were not eg for HIV negative men who did not agree with the less infectious optimism statement (ie were not optimistic), the percentage reporting high risk UAI increased from 4.0% to 9.0% (p<0.01). For those who did not agree with the improved treatments optimism statement the corresponding percentages were 2.4% and 8.1% (p=0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Among London gay men, the increase in unprotected anal intercourse with casual partners of unknown HIV status between 1998-2000 can not be explained by optimism in the light of new HIV drug therapies.

Keywords: AEGIS, Homosexuality, Male, HIV Infections, Risk-Taking, Sex Behavior, HIV Seropositivity, Safe Sex, Attitude, Questionnaires, Personality, Emotions, Affect, London, Human, Male, AIDS
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