A comparison of high-risk sexual behaviour and HIV testing amongst a bar-going sample of homosexual men in London and Edinburgh

Anthony Nardone, Jamie S. Frankis, Juli P. Dodds, Paul N. Flowers, Danielle E. Mercey, Granham J. Hart

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: This study compared high-risk sexual and HIV testing behaviour amongst homosexual men recruited from gay bars in London and Edinburgh. Methods: A cross-sectional survey monitoring high-risk sexual and HIV testing behaviour using a self-completed questionnaire was conducted in November and December 1996. Results: Two thousand, three hundred and ninety-seven questionnaires were returned (1,366 recruited in London and 1,031 in Edinburgh), with a response rate of 77%. A larger proportion of men surveyed in London had had unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with one or more male partners in the previous year (35%) than in Edinburgh (30%). Men recruited in Edinburgh were less likely to have had an HIV test (54%) than men in London (63%). In both surveys, 25% of men who reported UAI with partners of the same HIV status as themselves also reported never having had an HIV test. Conclusions: The observed dissimilarities in the HIV epidemic in the two cities may be accounted for by the differences in self-reported high-risk sexual and HIV testing behaviours between the two populations. A large proportion of men in both cities continue to engage in high-risk sexual behaviour suggesting continued transmission of HIV in these populations. Thus, there is a continued need for innovative and relevant health promotion amongst homosexual men in the UK.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)185-189
Number of pages5
JournalEuropean Journal of Public Health
Volume11
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Jul 2001

Keywords

  • HIV testing
  • homosexual men
  • risk factors
  • sexual behaviour
  • surveillance

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