Perception of vulnerability to HIV infection ill a cohort of homosexual/bisexual men in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The present study addresses sociodemographic characteristics, Knowledge and attitudes regarding HIV/AIDS, as well as risk behaviour and perception of vulnerability to HIV infection, in the first 295 homosexual and bisexual vo lunteers (excluding male commercial sex workers and transvestites) taking p art in a cohort study in Rio de Janeiro. The sample has a higher socio-econ omic level than the remainder of the cohort, and than comparable strata of the general population, and a sound knowledge about how to protect themselv es against HIV infection. lit addition, an association between perception o f vulnerability to infection and the practice of unprotected anal sex was o bserved. An association was also observed between higher levels of formal e ducation and perception of vulnerability; however no association was found with markers for past and recent exposure to sexually transmitted infection s (hepatitis B, HbsAG and syphilis). The results of the present study sugge st that knowledge and awareness of risk do not easily translate into behavi our change, since significant proportions of the cohort continue to practis e unprotected sex with both principal and casual partners, despite their aw areness of HIV infection risks as well as preventive measures.