title: History of childhood sexual abuse and HIV risk behaviors in homosexual and bisexual men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the prevalence and frequency of childhood sexual abuse and their association with sexual risk among a sample of gay and bisexual men. Methods. Cross-sectional data were collected by survey from randomly selected gay and bisexual men who attended the 1997 and 1998 Minneapolis/St. Paul Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Festivals. Data included demographics, sexual activity, history of childhood sexual abuse, HIV status, history of sexually transmitted infection, use of sex-related drugs (such as crack, cocaine, Ecstasy, amyl nitrate, crystal methamphetamine, and Special K), and history of exchanging sex for payment. Results. childhood sexual abuse was reported by 15.5% of the survey respondents (n = 134). Those who reported experiencing abuse regularly were more likely to (1) be HIV positive, (2) have exchanged sex for payment, and (3) be a current user of sex-related drugs. Neither unsafe sex nor sexually transmitted infections were associated with childhood sexual abuse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings show that more than 1 in 7 gay and bisexual men in a non-clinical, festival-based setting were victims of childhood sexual abuse and that childhood sexual abuse was associated with alarmingly high rates of men who were HIV infected and antecedent risk behaviors.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Mass, USA.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Wendy L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Hellerstedt
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Seth L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Welles
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001727:Bisexuality; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D047568:Unsafe Sex