ARE BISEXUALLY IDENTIFIED MEN IN SAN-FRANCISCO A COMMON VECTOR FOR SPREADING HIV-INFECTION TO WOMEN

Objectives. This article examines sexual risk taking among self-identi fied bisexual men in San Francisco and whether risk reduction has occu rred, with respect to both homosexual and heterosexual behaviors, amon g human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody-positive and HIV antibod y-negative men. It also examines psychosocial correlates of unprotecte d anal and vaginal intercourse. Methods. The participants were members of a population-based longitudinal cohort of 1034 single men aged 25 through 54 years recruited from the 19 census tracts in San Francisco that had the greatest prevalence of the acquired immunodeficiency synd rome in 1984. Of the total sample, 140 subjects initially identified t hemselves as bisexual; 85% of these men remained in the study. Results . The participants reported dramatic reductions in sexual risk taking. Prevalences of unprotected anal sex with men were similar among HIV-p ositive bisexual men (89% in 1984-1985 and 18% in 1988-1989) and those who were HIV negative (65% and 20%). The prevalence of unprotected va ginal sex was much lower for HIV-positive men (16% in 1984-1985 and 2% in 1988- 1989) than for HIV-negative men (35% and 20%). Unprotected i ntercourse was associated primarily with situational and interpersonal factors. Conclusions. Striking reductions in risk behaviors were repo rted. This subgroup of single, bisexually identified men appears unlik ely to be a common vector for spreading HIV infection to women.