Document 0656
 DOCN  M9590656
 TI    Rethinking HIV prevention strategies for gay men. Clearinghouse, P.O.
       Box 6003, Rockville, MD 20849-6003. 800-458-5231 ext. 5023.
 DT    9509
 AU    Gold RS; Deakin University, School of Psychology, Victoria, Australia.
 SO    Focus. 1995 Feb;10(3):1-4. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE AIDS/95700280
 AB    For many gay men there is not a safe sex culture. In fact, the incidence
       of unsafe sexual behavior remains disturbingly high. This raises
       questions about the effectiveness of our current approach to behavior
       change interventions for the prevention of HIV infection. Three studies
       were designed to investigate factors that may contribute to gay men's
       decisions to have unprotected anal intercourse. The findings suggest
       that while many gay men successfully maintain safe sex regimens or
       practice negotiated safety, in a substantial proportion of the gay
       community there is not a safe sex culture. At best, there may be an
       occasional slip-up culture. An intervention study was designed to
       investigate an alternative approach to HIV education that may counter
       self-justifications made during the heat of the moment. Findings showed
       that information and exhortation materials, no matter how well-designed,
       are no longer effective at changing behavior. Getting gay men to reflect
       on and evaluate the thinking that they employ during sexual encounters
       does help to prevent repeated slip-ups.
 DE    Adult  Contraceptive Devices, Male/UTILIZATION  HIV
       Infections/*PREVENTION & CONTROL  Health Promotion  *Homosexuality, Male
       Human  Intervention Studies  Male  Peer Group  Sex Behavior  Sexual
       Partners  NEWSLETTER ARTICLE

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