Marseille 2007
| Abstract #320 - Getting in early: Condom use at first anal sex between males is associated with better current health outcomes | ||||
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Session: 23.6: Sex and Risk (Parallel) on Monday @ 16.30-18.30 in CP Chaired by Ulrike Sonnenberg Schwan, Marc-Eric Gruenais Authors: Presenting Author: Mr Peter Saxton - New Zealand AIDS Foundation, New Zealand |
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| Additional Authors: Mr Anthony Hughes, Mr Peter Saxton, Dr Nigel Dickson, Dr Katrina Sharples, | ||||
| Aim: To examine whether condom use at first anal sex between males has changed over three decades, identify predictors of condom use at first anal sex, and explore current health outcomes associated with early adoption of condoms among homosexual men. | ||||
| Method / Issue: The analysis combines data from two cross-sectional studies comprising identical questionnaires: the 2006 venue-based Gay Auckland Periodic Sex Survey (GAPSS)(n=1228); and the nationwide 2006 Gay mens Online Sex Survey (GOSS)(n=2141). Questions included year of first anal sex with a male, condom use at first anal sex, and current age. | ||||
| Results / Comments: Retrospective reports of condom use at first anal sex increased steadily over time, from 6.5% of men who first had anal sex before 1976 to 74.5% of men who first had anal sex between 2001 and 2005. Condom use at first sex was marginally but statistically associated with age of first sex (p<0.001), sexual identity (p=0.05) and ethnicity (p<0.05). Men who reported no condoms at first sex were more likely to report non-condom use in the last six months with casual partners (p<0.001), regular boyfriend partners (p=0.001) and regular fuckbuddy partners (p<0.001), were more likely to be diagnosed HIV positive (p<0.001), and more likely to report a recent episode (p=0.05) and lifetime history of STIs (p<0.001). Alternatively, men who used condoms at first anal sex now report significantly more favourable attitudes towards condoms (all p<0.001). | ||||
| Discussion: Universal and sustained condom promotion has been a stable component of HIV education for homosexual men in New Zealand. This has not always been the case elsewhere, where exceptions to condom use have been sanctioned in different contexts. Drawing on 20 years of HIV health promotion among MSM in a low prevalence country, this paper argues that social movements that promote habit and familiarity are important for maintaining condom use among MSM. | ||||
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