Billington A, Rodger C, Wanigaratne S; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1998; 12: 1064 (abstract no. 60353).
Mortimer Market Centre, London, UK.
ISSUE: Group interventions aimed at facilitating sexual behaviour change and maintaining safer sex in gay men require ongoing analysis and development in order to remain responsive to the changing pattern of HIV infection and thus provide appropriate HIV prevention interventions. PROJECT: Groups have taken place over seven years at the Mortimer Market Centre, a London GUM clinic and are based on a cognitive behavioural approach. Changes have been made to the content and format over this period. Theoretical concepts informing the group have also changed. Using facilitators notes and participants feedback the evolution of the group was analysed within the context of gay men's experience of the HIV epidemic. In-depth interviews were conducted with ten participants and analysed using a discourse analytical approach. RESULTS: Changes to the intervention occurred as a result of both gay men's experience of living with the epidemic and the increasing need for more complex prevention messages. Analysis of interviews revealed an array of meanings participants ascribed to sexual behaviour and sexual relations. The interviews also revealed largely positive evaluation of group participation. LESSONS LEARNED: Group work with gay men can be an effective method of promoting behaviour change and conveying complex prevention messages. A reflexive approach enables the most effective and appropriate intervention to be delivered ensuring it remains sensitive to social, psychological and cultural changes.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Homosexuality
- Homosexuality, Male
- Humans
- Interpersonal Relations
- Interviews as Topic
- London
- Male
- Population Groups
- Safe Sex
- Sexual Behavior
Other ID:
UI: 102232304
From Meeting Abstracts