SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC CORRELATES FOR RISK-TAKING BEHAVIOR AMONG HIV SERONEGATIVE HOMOSEXUAL MEN

The aim of this paper is to determine the sociodemographic characteris tics of seronegative men engaging in behaviours at high risk for HIV t ransmission within a cohort of homosexual men. Eligible subjects in th e cohort (n=139) were those who were HIV negative and who completed an index visit between October 1989 and September 1990 and reported havi ng sexual contact with casual partners during the previous 12-month pe riod. Risk-takers (n=31) were those who reported having unprotected an al receptive or insertive intercourse with casual partners; while the remaining subjects (controls) (n=108) were those who reported either n ot engaging in anal intercourse with casual partners or using condoms when they did. Risk-takers were significantly younger and were more li kely than controls to have incomes below $10,000, to smoke cigarettes and to use nitrite inhalants. Our findings suggest the importance of t argeting AIDS prevention activities to specific sub-groups within the gay community who are more at risk of HIV infection.