Abstracts Vol. 1 [International Conference on AIDS (11th: 1996: Vancouver, Canada)]

Track C: Epidemiology and Public Health
Results: We found a strong association (p<0.000 I) between MSM of a lower social class
and the involvment in sexual pratices of high risk of infection by HIV.There is a meaningful
difference in the number of partners in the last I12 months in relation to the social classes
(p=0.01 9).Those with the smallest number of partners belongs to class B (59.8%) followed
by classes A (51I.9%) and C (43.1%). 23.1% of MSM had sexual intercourse with women in
the last I 2 months and 77.3% of these individuals were involved in high-risk sexual pratices
(HRSP), showing a strong association between the involvement with women and HRSP
(p<0.001). In higher age bands there is a significant decrease in HRSP (p=0.026 I).
Whether or not the individual thinks he has been contaminated by HIV (low risk of HIV
contamination=55.2%; average risk=67.5% high risk=63.0%) he gets involved more frequently with HRSP (p=0.2970).
Conclusions: The MSM of the lower social classes in Fortaleza are more frequently involved
in HRSP that may lead to HIV infection and major number of male partners. Interestingly
the MSM with female partners are more involved in sex with high risk of contamination by
HIV.
R. C.Gondim, Av. Imperado, 1333, Centro, FortalezalCE, CEP: 60015-052,Brazil Telephone:
55 85 253-4159 Fax: [phone] email:[email protected]
Tu.C.2393
A COMPARISON OF RISK FACTORS FOR HIV TRANSMISSION BETWEEN TWO
COHORTS OF GAY MEN (1 982-84 VS. 1995)
Cornelisse PGA, Strathdee SA, Craib KJP Hogg RS, Montaner JSG, O'Shaughnessy MV,
Schechter MT The Vanguard Project Team. BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS and the
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Objective: To compare baseline demographic information and risk factors for HIV-I transmission between seronegative participants in the original Vancouver LymphadenopathyAIDS Study (VLAS) and the new Vanguard Project (VP) involving young gay men.
Methods: The VLAS recruited 467 seronegative homosexual men during II /82-I 2/84,The
VP has recruited 194 seronegative men between ages 18 and 30 since 03/95. Information
regarding demographic variables (age, ethnicity income, education), sexual practices, and use
of illicit drugs were obtained from self-administered questionnaires at enrollment. A comparative analysis of both cohorts was conducted and in order to ensure homogeneity with
respect to age at enrollment, we restricted this analysis to VLAS participants who were
aged 18-30 at the time of recruitment (n=223). Both parametric and nonriparametric statistical methods were used. All p-values were two-sided.
Results: VLAS and VP participants were similar with respect to age at enrollment (mean: 26
vs. 26; p=0.266) and university attendance (29% vs. 36%; p=0.163). Significantly more VLAS
participants were Caucasian (98% vs. 83%; p<0.00 I).VLAS men were more likely to: have
been younger the first time they had sex with a male (mean: 17 vs. 18; p=0.002); have sexual encounters in bath houses (67% vs. 55%; p=0.0I I); engage in receptive anal intercourse
(93% vs. 72%; p<0.001 ); receptive oral intercourse (99% vs. 94%; p=0.004) receptive rimming (88% vs. 74%; p<0.00 I); insertive anal intercourse (95% vs. 76%; p<0.00 I); insertive
oral intercourse (99% vs. 94%; p=0.014) and insertive rimming (73% vs. 6 I%; p=0.006).
With respect to use of substances, significantly more VLAS participants reported using: marijuana (87% vs. 62%; p<0.00 I); poppers (78% vs. 33%; p<0.00 I); and MDA (17% vs. 7%;
p=0.003). A higher percentage of VLAS participants reported more than 5 male sexual
partners in the year prior to enrollment (75% vs. 33%;p<0.00 I) and in their lifetime (>20
partners: 80% vs. 25%; p<0.00 I).
Conclusions: Our data suggest that sexual practices have changed significantly since the
inception of the VLAS cohort in 1982. Although there appears to be a significant decline in
the frequency of high risk sexual behaviours and encounters among young gay men, there is
still considerable risky behaviour at present.The fiequency of condom use during high risk
sexual practices needs to be explored further
c/o Kevin Craib, 608-108 I Burrard Street,Vancouver, BC,V6Z I Y6, Canada Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone] e-mail: [email protected]
Tu.C.2394
BISEXUAL BEHAVIOR AND HIV RISKS IN MEXICAN MEN IN A POPULATION
BASED SURVEY.
Izazola-Licea Jose-Antonio*, Gortmaker SL**, DeGruttola V**,Tolbert K***, Mann J**.
SIDALAC, Fundacion Mexicana para la Salud, **Harvard School of Public Health, ***The
Population Council
Objectives:To compare patterns of bisexual behavior with exclusive heterosexual and
homosexual men.
Methods: A household probability survey was carried out with 8,068 nmen in Mexico City in
1992-93 using the national health surveys sampling frame. Only men sexually active in the
previous 5 years were studied.
Results: Bisexuals reported more prevalent anal intercourse with women (16% vs 3%,
p=0.01), and more sex with female prostitutes than exclusive heterosexuals (10% vs 4%;
p=0.04). Bisexuals used condoms more often with prostitutes than did heterosexuals
(p--0.01). Most of the bisexuals (79%) did not engage in anal receptive or insertive intercourse with males in the previous year practicing instead oral insertive sex or only masturbation; 35% of homosexuals did not report practicing anal sex. Bisexuals who engaged in
anal intercourse had less anal receptive behavior than homosexuals (13% vs 60%, p<0.I);
of these, due to condom use, only 7% of bisexuals and I 8% of homosexuals had unprotected anal receptive sex in the last intercourse with a male.
Conclusions: Bisexuals practice less risky sexual behavior with males than exclusive homosexuals.This finding may imply that bisexual men in Mexico may have lower prevalence of
HIV than other homosexually-active men and therefore may not be very effective as a
bridge.
Josd Antonio lzazola-Licea. Periferico Sur # 4809. Col. El Arenal-Tepepan. Mexico, D. CP
146T10. Mexico.Tel:[phone]- I I Fax:[phone]- I
Tu.C.2395

THE SYMBOLIC MEANING OF CONDOM USE AMONG YOUNG GAY MEN IN
NORWAY
Middelthon, Anne-Lise. University of Oslo Norway

Tu.C.2393 -Tu.C.2397
Objective:The study aims at increased knowledge of young gay men in Norway their vulnerability for and their coping strategies towards, HIV infection.This presentation explores
condoms as a vehicle for conveying meaning, that is as a sign.
Methods: Repeated in-depth interviews over a period of 21I months with 20 men (17-22
years) self identified as gay complemented by focus group discussions and key informant
interviews.
Result: Negotiating safer sex is very much a tacit process, in which the presence of, or the
presenting of condoms as well as the body positioning constitute important parts of the
language. Both use, non-use and the presence of condoms work as signs, the meanings
ascribed or the messages conveyed, however, change with time, relationship and context.
For young Norwegian gay men, condoms do not connotate suspicion, death or illness but
responsibility respect, hygiene, feeling safe, caring, a natural thing, joy life and anal sex This is
so for all respondents including the few who find condoms occasionally difficult to use or
do not manage to initiate use of condoms.When condoms become a sign for anal intercourse, the signification process is determined by the young men's feelings towards their
own sexuality. If anal sex is felt to be shameful, initiating condom use becomes difficult as it
signals a wish for a shameful act. If shame or guilt is not involved, excitement and joy
become the connotation. In the context of a steady relationship the use, or non-use of condoms can signify trust. Non-use may also be practised to signify the uniqueness of the relationship. Being responsible or paying respect is also implied from the use of condoms. An
experienced and older partner is often seen as "the generalised gay man" and his non-use
of condoms may be seen as signifying gay men in general as irresponsible and may by this,
hamper the young man's process of self acceptance. Use of condoms is experienced as a
means of deleting anxiety and absence of anxiety as a necessity for fully taking pleasure of
sex. Condoms, thus becomes a sign for the possibility of taking pleasure.
Conclusion: Condoms carry important messages and meanings to young gay men in
Norway
Anne-Lise Middelthon, Department for Medical Anthropology Box I 30 Blindern, 0317
OSLO Norway Phone [phone]
Tu.C.2396
A QUESTIONARY STUDY ACCOMPLISHED IN 1995 AT TWO GAY SAUNAS IN
OSLO, NORWAY.
Aars, H. Olafiaklinikken, Department for STD and HIV, UllevAl University Hospital, Oslo,
Norway
Issue:The Olafia-clinic runs an outpatient clinic for STD and HIV/AIDS - as well as an outreach and preventive activity among different groups and persons at risk. Since the start of
the HIV-epidemic the clinic has been the most used testing and counselling clinic for STD
and HIV in Norway, and all services are free. One main task for the clinic is to prevent the
transmission of STD/HIV among gay and bisexual men.The issue of this study was to investigate whether men having sex with men in the two gay saunas in Oslo had been examined
for STD/HIV during the last two years - whether they in these consultations had been
open about having sex with other men - and to what extent they feel their sexual health is
taken care of by today's health service.
Project: An anonymous questionnaire containing I13 questions was given to all visitors over
a period of 6 evenings. In the reception a written information was given to the visitors saying that 2 people from the Olafia-clinic were present to give out the questionnaire, and
were available for questions and help filling in the forms.The visitors themselves put the
forms in a closed box.
Results: A total of 17 I visitors were asked to fill in the questionnaire. 138 questionnaires
were collected. 79 (n= 127) examined for STD and 78 (n= 124) HIV-tested during the last
two years. 72 of the STD-examined and 70 of the HIV-tested answered that they had been
open in the consultation regarding having sex with other men. 67 (n= 126) answered they
feel their sexual health is taken care of by today's health service. More detailed results will
be presented at the conference.
Lessons learned: A large percentage of the visitors to gay saunas have been examined/tested for STD/HIV over the last two years, and seem to be fairly open about having sex with
other men. However just half of these men feel their sexual health is taken care of by
today's health service.
Haakon Aars, Olafiaklinikken, Gronland Postkontor, 0133 Oslo, Norway Telephone: (47) 22
08 29 50 Fax: [phone]
Tu.C.2397
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELF-EFFICACY, PERCEIVED AIDS THREAT,AND
SEXUAL BEHAVIORS -ANALYSIS OF 108 MALE HOMOSEXUALS IN SOUTHERN
TAIWAN.
K, N.Y*, Chung, H.H.*, Chang, S.J.**, Ko,YC.**. *School of Nursing of Kaohsiung Medical
College, Kaohsiung,Taiwan, **School of Public Health of Kaohsiung Medical College,
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Objective: The purposes of this study were to investigate the relationship between self efficacy perceived AIDS threat, and sexual behavior among male homosexuals in southern
Taiwan.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between October 1994 and March 1995
among 108 male homosexuals. Data were collected by self-administered, anonymous questionnaire and whole blood.The mean age of all respondents was 25.8 ~ 6.0 years; of 84
(77.8%) subjects who had taken the HIV- I serum antibody test, 8 (9.5%) were HIV- I antibody positive.
Results: The following results were obtained: (I) 74% (80/108) of respondents reported
engaging in anal intercourse within the past yeac 10.2%-12.0% of the men reported that
they always used a condom during anal intercourse. (2) Self-efficacy of subjects was strongly
associated with the number of sexual partners and risky behaviors. (3) Perceived AIDS
threat was net associated with the sexual behavior of the subjects. (4) Multiple regression
analysis explained 48.48% of the following variables in the number of lifetime partners,
months with one sexual partne years with partners, years of education, monogamous or
not, have ever had HIV test, age of first sexual activity and alcohol consumption before sex
ual activities.

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