AIDS RISK REDUCTION STRATEGIES AMONG UNITED-STATES AND SWEDISH HETEROSEXUAL UNIVERSITY-STUDENTS

Attitudes toward sex and condoms in the U.S. are more negative and les s monolithic than in Sweden. We investigated the possible effect of th is on AIDS prevention strategies by comparing women and men who were h eterosexual university students in the two countries (Sweden: n = 570; U.S: n = 407). Using self-administered questionnaires, subjects were asked about their sexual activities, safer sex practices, numbers of p artners, and condom use. American students took a more multifaceted ap proach to safer sex-combining changes in sexual activities, reductions in casual sex, and increased condom use with both steady and nonstead y partners. Swedish students took a more singular approach-consistentl y using condoms with nonsteady partners. It is suggested that the diff erence in Swedish practices results from fundamental differences in se xual attitudes between the countries.