title: HIV treatments optimism and sexual behaviour among gay men in Sydney and Melbourne.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate associations between gay men's optimism and sexual behaviour in the context of new HIV treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional surveys (using anonymous, self-completed questionnaires) were conducted in Sydney during February 1998 (n = 2200) and in Melbourne during January 1998 (n = 1891). Gay men were recruited at social and sex-on-premises venues, clinics and fair days/carnivals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a multivariate analysis, unprotected anal intercourse with casual partners (UAIC) was associated with being recruited at a sex-on-premises venue (rather than a clinic or fair day/carnival), HIV positivity, having been tested for HIV less than 6 months ago (rather than over 2 years ago or never having been tested), and not having a regular partner. Over and above these factors, UAIC was associated with agreement with the statements 'An HIV-positive person who is on combination therapy is unlikely to transmit HIV' and 'I'm less worried about HIV infection than I used to be'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data reveal a significant relationship between UAIC and certain aspects of optimism in the context of new HIV treatments. Whereas the direction of causality cannot be specified, there is a clear need for HIV and sexual health education programmes to clarify issues of viral load, new and drug resistant strains of HIV, and other infectious agents.
authors.affiliation: National Centre in HIV Social Research, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van de Ven
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kippax
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knox
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Prestage
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crawford
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019562:Viral Load