Experiences and Socialization of Jamaican men with multiple sex partners

One of the goals of the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) control p rogramme in Jamaica is to encourage persons to have a single sex partner Be fore this can be achieved in men, it is important to identify the demograph ic characteristics as well as the sexual attitudes and socialization of men who have multiple sex partners. A national survey was conducted on sexual decision-making in Jamaica in which a random sample of 3,001 persons was se lected for study and of 2,580 (86%) interviewed 979 were men. The following analyses included the 769 men who were sexually active. Thirty-four per ce nt (34%), 95% CI, 30.6 - 37.4%) of these men said that they were currently having sex with more than one woman. Although condom use was higher in men with multiple sex partners, 33% of them said that they never used condoms. Independent predictors of having multiple sex partners were not being in as table union; being raised by fathers only and having a secondary school edu cation. There war no significant association with church attendance or with occupation Compared with other males, men who had multiple sex partners st arted having sex at an earlier age and were more likely to engage in high-r isk sex behaviours such as having sex with prostitutes and abusing drugs pr ior to coitus. They were also more likely to believe in the use of sex as a means to control their partners and were less likely to think that being m arried or involved in a long-term relationship war important These data mus t be taken into consideration by the AIDS central programme in Jamaica when formulating policies to promote monogamy. There may also be a need to impl ement parenting support or education programmes far single men who raise th eir sons.