Continued high-risk sexual behaviour among HIV-positive people in Wales.
The study objective was to investigate self-reported sexual practices among HIV-positive people in Wales in order to estimate the extent of unprotected sex and to develop services that assist positive people reduce the risk of sexual spread of HIV. A cross-sectional postal questionnaire survey was conducted between February and July 1999 at all open-access HIV outpatient facilities in Wales. All HIV-positive people attending during the study period were invited to enroll in the study. Data were obtained on 104/141 (74%) enrolled patients including 70 (67%) homo/bisexual men. Most (79/104, 76%) were sexually active and 42% (33/79) had casual partners. One in six (13/79, 16.5%) sexually active people reported unprotected high-risk sex with HIV-negative or unknown status partners, the majority (9/13, 69%) of whom were male homosexuals. It is important that health professionals specifically address issues of sexual behaviour with HIV positive people during consultation. A renewed safer sex campaign targeting men who have sex with men is urgently needed.
Browning
Mary R
MR
Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Cardiff Royal Infirmary, Cardiff CF24 0SZ, UK. mary.browning@virgin.net
Evans
Meirion R
MR
Rees
Clive M
CM
D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology