Actual versus perceived HIV status, sexual behaviors and predictors of unprotected sex among young gay and bisexual men who identify as HIV-negative, HIV-positive and untested.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the prevalence and predictors of HIV sexual risk behavior among young gay and bisexual men who perceived themselves to be HIV-negative, HIV-positive, or who were untested.


METHODS
Population-based sample of young gay and bisexual men.


METHODS
Using multi-stage probability sampling, 408 gay and bisexual men aged 18-29 years in San Francisco were recruited and interviewed, and blood samples for HIV-testing from 364 participants were obtained.


RESULTS
HIV prevalence was 18.7%, although 25% of the men who were HIV-positive did not know it. Thirty-seven per cent reported engaging in unprotected anal intercourse during the past year, including 59% of the men who knew they were HIV-positive, 35% of the men who perceived themselves HIV-negative and 28% of the untested men. Logistic regressions found similar predictors of unprotected intercourse for HIV-negatives and HIV-positives, including sexual impulsivity, substance use, sexual enjoyment and communication problems.


CONCLUSIONS
The high rates of unprotected intercourse, particularly among the HIV-positive men, attest to the urgent need for HIV-prevention interventions for young gay and bisexual men. The findings suggest that many of the important variables to target in interventions are similar for both HIV-positive and HIV-negative men.
Hays
R B
RB
Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco 94105, USA.
Paul
J
J
Ekstrand
M
M
Kegeles
S M
SM
Stall
R
R
Coates
T J
TJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001727:Bisexuality; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology