Sexual practices and condom usage in a cohort of homosexual men in relation to human immunodeficiency virus status.
Between January 1, and October 31, 1987, 420 homosexual men who participated in a cohort study of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) completed a questionnaire that examined their sexual practices during the previous six months. Of the subjects, 205 (48.8%) men were HIV-seropositive and 215 (51.2%) men were HIV-seronegative. Although there was an appreciable level of condom usage in both groups, 13.5% of the HIV-seronegative men had engaged in unprotected receptive anal intercourse and 6.3% of the HIV-seropositive men had engaged in unprotected insertive anal intercourse. Condom breakage was reported on approximately 6% of occasions by a minority of subjects. Among subjects who were in a relationship with a regular male sexual partner, the most commonly reported sexual practices were deep kissing, mutual masturbation and receptive oral intercourse without ejaculation. No HIV-seronegative man engaged in unprotected receptive and/or insertive anal intercourse, receptive oral intercourse with ejaculation or receptive and/or insertive "fisting" with a regular partner who was HIV-seropositive. No HIV-seropositive man engaged in unprotected insertive anal intercourse to ejaculation with an HIV-seronegative partner, although they did so with partners who were HIV-seropositive or of unknown status. On multivariate analyses the subject's antibody status was found to be associated with receptive anal intercourse with a condom (P = 0.007) and mutual masturbation (P = 0.001), with HIV-seronegative men being more likely to practise either; no significant independent effect was associated with the partner's antibody status. These findings provide important information on the types and levels of sexual practices in a group of homosexual men after the recognition of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in this country.
Tindall
B
B
NHMRC Special Unit in AIDS Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Surry Hills, NSW.
Swanson
C
C
Donovan
B
B
Cooper
D A
DA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001727:Bisexuality; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003275:Contraceptive Devices, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012650:Self Disclosure; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
D015483:HIV Antibodies