Educational status and young Dutch gay men's beliefs about using condoms

The higher levels of HIV risk behaviour that have been found in young gay m en with lower socio-economic status (SES, among others defined as education al achievement) may result from unequal effects of safer sex interventions. We conducted semi-structured focus group interviews with an educationally diverse sample of 113 young gay men living in The Netherlands. The objectiv e was to bring to light men's salient ('accessible') beliefs about using co ndoms since information about beliefs might facilitate the formulation of ' personally relevant' safer sex messages that enhance in-depth message proce ssing. We found several educational differences in the areas of Knowledge a bout HIV preventive behaviour, cognitive schemas about the factors involved in HIV transmission, perceived pros and cons of using condoms, perceived s ocial pressure to use condoms and feelings of being in control of protectiv e action. This may suggest that, for intervention efforts to be effective i n motivating the diversity of young gay men to engage in safer sex, interve ntions should convey tailor-made messages that match recipients' educationa l degree. Several implications for the formulation of such messages are dis cussed.