Barcelona 2013
Menu
AIDSImpact.com
Conference Details
Authors
International Committee
Plenary Speakers
Presenting Speakers
Programme
Sessions
Scientific Committee
Acknowledgements
| Abstract #469 - E-Posters English | ||||
|
Session: 50.43: E-Posters English (Poster) on Sunday in Chaired by Authors: Presenting Author: Dr Iryna Zablotska - The University of New South Wales, Australia |
||||
| Additional Authors: Dr. Jordi Casabona, Sra Cristina Sanclemente, Dra. Anna Esteve, Dra. Victoria Gonzalez, Grupo HIVITS TS, | ||||
| Aim: Personal environment, through established behavioural norms, can directly affect sexual behaviour of its individual members. A significant body of research has been developed on sexual practices of gay men, while little is known about perceived behavioural norms regarding HIV risk reduction practices and their association with practices. | ||||
| Method / Issue: We used the 2010-2012 data from the cross-sectional CONNECT Study, which recruited gay men in three Australian cities (Sydney, Melbourne and Perth) using respondent-driven sampling (RDS). Participants were asked to report the size and characteristics of their personal networks. They also provided information about sexual practices with regular partners (boyfriends), familiar (or well-known casual) partners and new casual partners in last six months, as well as the acceptability of these practices in personal networks. The acceptability of sexual practices and its association with actual practices were analysed using RDS and standard regression analytical methods. | ||||
| Results / Comments: Among 937 participants (mean age 37 years, average personal network size 17 members, 62% were in regular relationships and 71% had one or more casual partners in the past 6 months. Disclosure of HIV status was more common to regular partners and familiar partners (75% and 55% of responses) than with new casual partners (38%). Unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) was most common in the context of seroconcordance, and it was more common with regular and familiar partners than with new casual partners. 50 % of the respondents reported that members of their personal networks found it acceptable to have UAI if their familiar partners were of the same HIV status, but only 4% thought it was acceptable with seroconcordant new casual partners. As to serodiscordant UAI, 7% thought it was acceptable with familiar and 4% with new casual partners. self-report of having UAI in the last 6 months was significantly associated with the acceptability of UAI in personal network. | ||||
| Discussion: The results confirm the relationship between community norms and individual practices of gay men. Serosorting, specifically with familiar casual partners, is currently the most acceptable and common practice of HIV risk reduction in the context of UAI. Knowledge about and fostering of positive behavioural norms may help improve effectiveness of HIV prevention programs in gay communities. | ||||
| Go Back | ||||