title: Sexually transmitted diseases and the use of condoms in a cohort of homosexual men followed since 1983 in Finland.
abstract: High rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) were recorded among 235 homosexually active men at the start of a prospective follow-up study in June 1983 in Finland. The vast majority (88.5%) reported at least one STD, the most common of them being pubic lice (64.7%) followed by gonorrhoea (42.9%) and non-gonococcal urethritis (26.4%). Those 31 (13.2%) who were seropositive for HIV at the end of the study, had experienced more episodes of STDs than the seronegative individuals (p = 0.0027). Nine HIV seroconversions were noted during the follow-up of 5-40 months, all in individuals who had practised "unsafe" sex. The study participants were repeatedly given detailed advice for avoiding HIV infection, and a tendency towards "safer" sexual practises resulting in a decrease in incidence of most STDs, was noted during the course of the study. However, further spread of HIV is to be expected because 57% of the men still reported practising and sex at the end of the follow-up, and 42% of them without condoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Valle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003275:Contraceptive Devices, Male; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors