       Document 0449
 DOCN  M9550449
 TI    Knowledge and practice of sexual safety in Melbourne gay men in the
       nineties.
 DT    9505
 AU    Ridge DT; Plummer DC; Minichiello V; School of Behavioural Health
       Sciences, La Trobe University,; Melbourne.
 SO    Aust J Public Health. 1994 Sep;18(3):319-25. Unique Identifier :
       AIDSLINE MED/95143345
 AB    Despite the impact of education programs, the ability of gay men to
       sustain sexual safety still comes under public scrutiny. A
       self-administered questionnaire was distributed in 1990 to a convenience
       sample of 284 gay-identified Melbourne men recruited from gay groups,
       health clinics, gay pubs and nightclubs, sex-on-premises venues, and the
       social networks of these men. The questionnaire measured the perceived
       safety of various sexual practices and the practice of unprotected anal
       intercourse over the previous three months. These results were compared
       with results from other Australian studies. Whereas nearly all the men
       were sexually active, only a small proportion considered activities such
       as oral sex without ejaculation and anal sex with condoms to be 'totally
       safe'. The majority considered these activities to be 'more safe than
       unsafe', suggesting a risk-reduction rather than a 'no-risk' approach to
       sex. Comparisons with other Australian studies suggest that gay men are
       becoming more confident in the safety of sexual activities labelled as
       'safe' by the AIDS Council. There was no elevated practice of
       unprotected anal sex at 'sex-on-premises' venues. Most men who had anal
       sex used condoms all of the time, whether sexual partnerships were 'once
       only' or were 'ongoing', suggesting that 'condoms always' is still a
       viable option in various partnerships. There was some evidence that a
       minority of men abandoned condoms in ongoing partnerships. If specific
       education campaigns are developed to promote 'negotiated safety' in
       partnerships, then such campaigns should not contradict the 'condoms
       always' strategy.
 DE    Adult  Condoms/UTILIZATION  Demography  *Homosexuality, Male  Human  HIV
       Infections/*PREVENTION & CONTROL  *Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice  Male
       Sex Behavior  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't  Victoria  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

