'What does the phrase "safer sex" mean to you?' Understanding among Glaswegian 18-year-olds in 1990.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain what young people in western Scotland understand by the phrase 'safer sex', and the social correlates of this knowledge.


METHODS
Face-to-face interviews with 18-year-olds participating in the third stage of a longitudinal study of the social patterning of health and illness.


METHODS
The Central Clydeside Conurbation in western Scotland.


METHODS
Eight hundred and seventy-nine 18-year-olds (416 men and 463 women).


METHODS
Reported understanding of the term 'safer sex'.


RESULTS
Eighty-four per cent mentioned condoms, 68% some aspect of choice of partner, and only 2% abstaining from specific sexual activities. Those in more advantaged socio-economic circumstances and with higher levels of education were more likely to have 'better' knowledge (defined as mentioning condom use plus one or more other risk-reduction strategy).


CONCLUSIONS
Although knowledge of the routes of transmission of HIV may be reasonably good among the young, knowledge of what professionals mean by 'safer sex' appears less so, particularly among the more deprived sections of the community.
Macintyre
S
S
Medical Research Council, Medical Sociology Unit, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
West
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012606:Scotland; D012736:Sex Education; D012725:Sexual Behavior