Document 0245
 DOCN  M9550245
 TI    Young gay men and HIV: running the risk?
 DT    9505
 AU    Ridge DT; Plummer DC; Minichiello V; Sexual Health Research Group,
       School of Behavioural Health; Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora,
       Victoria, Australia.
 SO    AIDS Care. 1994;6(4):371-8. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/95134772
 AB    HIV research often depicts 'adolescents' and 'youth' as having 'unique'
       qualities which predispose them to sexual risk. Yet, the evidence points
       to unsafe sexual behaviour as not being socially uniform. At a time when
       the idea of 'risk groups' for HIV is being subjected to increasing
       public scrutiny, researchers also need to question assumptions about
       youth 'risk'. This study examines whether young gay men are at greater
       risk for unsafe sexual behaviour than older gay men. A questionnaire was
       administered to 284 predominately gay identified men in Melbourne,
       Australia, recruited from gay groups, health clinics, gay pubs and
       nightclubs, sex on premises venues, and the social networks of these
       men. The results show that, while there was no difference in the level
       of recent unprotected anal intercourse between age groups, young men
       (under 25 years) from gay commercial venues or who did not belong to a
       gay organization(s) had a significantly higher level of recent
       unprotected anal sex than other young gay men. These results suggest
       that sexual safety may be more appropriately explained as a social
       process, rather than a youthful characteristic, and that researchers
       should include cohort effects into their analyses.
 DE    Adolescence  Adult  Age Factors  Gender Identity  Homosexuality,
       Male/*PSYCHOLOGY  Human  HIV Infections/PREVENTION &
       CONTROL/*PSYCHOLOGY/TRANSMISSION  *Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice  Male
       Middle Age  *Risk-Taking  *Sex Behavior  Social Environment  Social
       Support  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).