Document 2493
 DOCN  M94A2493
 TI    HIV infection in a national sample of homosexual men in The Netherlands.
 DT    9412
 AU    Wiessing LG; Houweling H; Sandfort TG; Schop W; Bosga MB; Van den Akker
       R; Hoogenveen RT; Natl Inst Public Health (RIVM)/University of Utrecht,;
       Netherlands.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):291 (abstract no. PC0089). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94370082
 AB    OBJECTIVES: Data on the prevalence of HIV infection among homosexual men
       in The Netherlands are lacking. In this cross-sectional study the unique
       possibility exists to correct the prevalence estimate for selection bias
       related with the HIV test. To our knowledge this has not been done on a
       national level before. METHODS: Participants in the study including a
       blood test (n = 308), were recruited in 1991/1992 among 1134 male
       respondents of a non-HIV specific questionnaire without a blood test
       included in 1989 in the 'Gay Krant', a national magazine for
       homosexuals. Participants in the blood test in 1991/1992 were compared
       (bi- and multivariate) with the other respondents of 1989, on
       self-reported risk behavior and self-reported serostatus in 1989. On the
       basis of self-reported serostatus in 1989 the measured seroprevalence in
       1991/1992 was corrected in a logistic model for selection bias connected
       with the blood test. Other studies indicate that readers of the Gay
       Krant possibly have a lower risk of HIV infection than homosexual men in
       general. RESULTS: Among the 308 participants in the blood test 20 were
       seropositive (prevalence 6.5%, 95% CI 4.0-10.0). Risk behavior showed to
       be high and increasing. Participation in the blood test was not related
       to self-reported serostatus, but was related to self-reported risk
       behavior in 1989. After correction, the HIV-prevalence in 1991/1992
       among male readers of the Gay Krant is estimated to be 5.6% (95% CI
       3.4-7.8). A recent aselect population study indicates that 4% of adult
       males in the Netherlands had recent homosexual contacts, so the
       estimated number of HIV-infected homosexual men in The Netherlands in
       1991/1992 is estimated between 6500 and 15,000. CONCLUSIONS: It is
       possible to carry out seroepidemiological research among homosexual men
       with selection bias being assessed and corrected for in the prevalence
       estimate. The prevalence of HIV among homosexual men in The Netherlands
       is substantial, even outside of Amsterdam.
 DE    Adult  Cross-Sectional Studies  Homosexuality/*STATISTICS & NUMER DATA
       Human  HIV Infections/*EPIDEMIOLOGY  Male  Netherlands/EPIDEMIOLOGY
       Prevalence  Risk Factors  Seroepidemiologic Methods  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
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