SAFER SEX - LESSONS FROM THE MALE SEX INDUSTRY

Discerning the complex factors influencing male sex work is an importa nt element of understanding HIV transmission. The present study examin es a sample of London-based masseurs and street workers' ideas concern ing their sexual encounters, their partners and their role in society. Unsafe sex is associated with (1) a lack of perception of control in the sexual encounter, (2) attractive clients, and (3) loving relations hips with non-clients. The ways in which personal needs and stigma inf luence sexual practices and the men's sense of identity are considered . For some of the men, unsafe sex demarcates a sphere containing a typ e of intimacy that is absent from their working life. Since working li fe is associated with negative social judgements, the importance of th is separate sphere is heightened. The findings call into question mode ls of health behaviour that are built on individualist, reason-based t enets and highlight the importance of social and emotional factors in safer sexual behaviour. The implications of the findings for preventio n programmes and future research are discussed.