Pleak RR, Meyer-Bahlburg HF; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1989 Jun 4-9; 5: 708 (abstract no. Th.D.O.8).
HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
OBJECTIVE: To assess sexual behavior and AIDS awareness in young male prostitutes, a group at potentially great risk for acquiring and disseminating infection with the etiologic agent of AIDS. METHODS: 50 New York male prostitutes (for men), aged 14-27, were recruited in their operating locales (streets or bars and theaters) and systematically interviewed for 2.5 hours using semi-structured instruments to assess demographics, detailed sexual behavior, and knowledge and attitudes about AIDS/HIV. RESULTS: Preliminary results show an average age of 20.7 years. In erotic fantasy, 50% were predominantly homosexual, 20% bisexual, and 30% predominated heterosexual. Only one reported being HIV antibody positive. The subjects' sexual behavior with their male customers for pay included rates of condom use of 50% with fellatio and 85% with anal intercourse. With their non-paying male partners these rates fell to 20% with fellatio and 55% with anal intercourse, and fell further with their (non-paying) female partners to 2% with fellatio and 12% with vaginal intercourse. The safety of their sexual behavior did not appear to be related to their knowledge and awareness of AIDS/HIV, which was quite high overall. Differences between the street and the bar/theater hustlers exist, with street hustlers being younger, less knowledgeable about AIDS/HIV, less likely to use condoms with women, and more likely to use drugs. CONCLUSION: Male prostitutes' sexual behavior is safest (use of condoms, abstinence from certain higher-risk activities) with their male customers, where perceived threat is highest, and most unsafe with female partners where perceived threat is lowest. Knowledge of AIDS, while quite high, appears unrelated to safeness of sexual behavior.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Behavior
- Bisexuality
- Condoms
- Female
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
- Homosexuality
- Humans
- Infection
- Knowledge
- Male
- New York
- Prostitution
- Sexual Behavior
- Unsafe Sex
Other ID:
UI: 102179610
From Meeting Abstracts