AEGiS-15IAC: Using personal risk time lines to explore risk factors for seroconversion among gay and bisexual men.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Using personal risk time lines to explore risk factors for seroconversion among gay and bisexual men.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. WeOrD1248)

Elam GA, Macdonald N, Evans B, Gilbart V, Hickson F, Imrie J, McGarrigle CA, Power R, Fenton K
Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, London, United Kingdom

BACKGROUND: One in five diagnoses of HIV infection acquired through sex between men in the UK indicates recent infection. INSIGHT was established to explore the sexual behaviour, attitudes and lifestyles of gay and bisexual men who HIV test to understand the risk factors for HIV seroconversion. INSIGHT, funded by the Medical Research Council, comprises: a national descriptive survey exploring demographics and sexual behaviour among gay and bisexual men diagnosed with recently acquired HIV infection in England and Wales; a case-control computer-assisted self-interview (CASI) survey among men attending sexual health clinics who have recently tested positive (cases) or negative (controls) having tested negative during the previous two years; and depth interviews among a subset of CASI participants exploring the social, behavioural and emotional context of seroconversion.

METHODS: During the depth interviews, personal risk time lines were constructed to provide visual summaries of complex sexual histories and perceptions of risk. Respondents were provided with an axis representing level of risk (y) and the interval between their recent and previous HIV test (x) and asked to draw a line representing their perceived level of risk of HIV over time. Respondents were encouraged to provide verbal descriptions of the lines and explanations for positioning and changes. Additional lines were added to indicate risk spanning sexual careers and to compare with levels of sexual satisfaction.

RESULTS: The use of time lines enhanced recall of events between the respondents' two HIV tests and the level of detail provided in their narratives. Discourse around the construction of the time lines revealed ways in which risk was conceptualised and meanings of 'low' and 'high' risk sexual activity.

CONCLUSIONS: Production of risk time lines by respondents enhanced data collection and the explanatory power of narratives by providing respondents with clear summaries of changes over time and opportunities to explore definitions of sexual risk taking.

Keywords: AEGIS, Bisexuality, Homosexuality, Male, Homosexuality, Risk Factors, Risk-Taking, Sexual Behavior, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Interviews, England, Wales, Humans, Male, utilization

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