(Vancouver) A Vancouver study has found that half of young gay and bisexual men are having high-risk unprotected sex, despite a decade of prevention efforts.
Half of the participants in the study reported at least a single incident of unprotected anal sex in the past year. Anal sex is one of the highest-risk sexual practices for the transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
The study found that young gay and bisexual men are most likely to put themselves at risk within relationships with regular sexual partners. Nonetheless, one-quarter of those with casual sexual partners also reported at least a single incident of unprotected anal sex in the past year.
The most common reasons cited for having unprotected sex include: being in a long-term or monogamous relationship; being with a partner who is also HIV-negative; being drunk or stoned at the time; and not having a condom at the time.
These findings are based on the first 300 questionnaires completed by participants in the Vanguard Project, an ongoing study of HIV rates and risk factors in young gay and bisexual men in the Lower Mainland. Launched in May 1995, the study has now released its first set of findings, as reported today in Xtra West, Vancouver's gay & lesbian biweekly.
One thousand participants are being recruited to participate in the Vanguard Project. Participation involves an annual HIV test and a self-administered questionnaire on sexual behaviours, substance use, demographic information and life experience. The objectives of the study are to monitor the rate of HIV infection in this population and to examine the social determinants of risk behaviour.
Eligible participants are men between the ages of 18 and 30 who live in the Lower Mainland. The study is open to all men who have sex with men, whether they define themselves as gay, bisexual or straight.
The study is a project of the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS at St. Paul's Hospital, in cooperation with the University of British Columbia. The study has received funding from Health Canada to continue for at least three years.
Project coordinator Steve Martindale and colleagues will be reporting these findings at the XI International Conference on AIDS, to be held in Vancouver from July 7 to 12, 1996. The findings are being shared with the gay community, AIDS service organizations, public health personnel and policy makers in an effort to enhance HIV prevention efforts aimed at young gay and bisexual men.
For more information, contact:
Bonnie Devlin
Vanguard Project Coordinator
608 - 1081 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6Z 1Y6
Tel: (604)806-8306
Fax: (604)806-9044