SEROPREVALENCE, RISK-FACTORS AND ATTITUDE TO HIV-1 IN A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF LESBIANS IN TURIN

Objective-To estimate the HIV-1 seroprevalence, behavioural risks and attitude to HIV-1 infection among lesbians. Setting-Institute of Infec tious Diseases, University of Turin, Italy. Subjects-From March 1992 t o May 1993, 181 lesbians were tested for HIV-1 and included in the stu dy. Methods-Sociodemographic details, nonsexual risks for HIV-1, sexua l behaviour, STD history and attitude to HIV-1 were obtained from an a nonymous, standardised, self-administered, 30-item questionnaire. Snow -ball techniques were used to recruit the largest possible number of p articipants. Results-11 lesbians (6.1%) were found to be HIV-1 antibod y positive. Of them, 10 were intravenous (IV) drug users. STD episodes were higher among lesbians with HIV-1 than without (p = 0.04), increa sing in both groups over time. Syphilis, genital herpes and viral hepa titis were highly associated with HIV-1 (p = 0.000). In univariate ana lysis, IV drug use, bisexual behaviour, history of STDs, sex during me nses and vaginavanal manipulation were significantly linked to HIV-1 ( p = 0.000). In multivariate analysis only history of IV drug use (p = 0.04) and bisexual behaviour (p = 0.06) remained independently associa ted with HIV-1. Seventy-one participants (39.3%) had already undergone AIDS testing. Only 3.5% admitted to be at risk for HIV-1 and 11% chan ged their sex habits after first hearing of AIDS. No lesbian had ever practised safe-sex. Television was the most important source of inform ation on HIV-1 (84%). Conclusion-IV drug use was the most likely means of HIV-1 infecting the lesbians of Turin. The high rate of STDs and t he low perceived risk to HIV-1 require programmes of STD prevention an d AIDS information to be targeted at the lesbian community.