Sexual behaviour and use of the condom by men attending gay bars and clubs in Glasgow and Edinburgh

Abstract

How widespread are the safer forms of sexual behaviour reportedly adopted by male homosexuals in recent years? A questionnaire was completed by 173 and 83 gay men attending gay bars and clubs in Edinburgh and Glasgow respectively. Comparisons were made between those who reported using the condom (n = 137, [54%]) and those who did not (n = 119, [46%]). Sixty percent of respondents reported more than 5 partners during the previous year. Condom use was much less common among men with less than 5 years' experience as a practising homosexual. Less than one-fifth of respondents reported always using a condom during anal intercourse. Orogenital contact without a condom was reported by 84% of all respondents, and unprotected anal intercourse by 40%, (over 30% for those who used condoms). About one-third of condom users but only 14% of non-users thought they were at risk of catching HIV because of their sexual behaviour, although 80% of users and 70% of non-users said their lifestyles had been affected by the HIV epidemic. While there were some encouraging signs of behaviour change, unprotected anal sex is still widely practised. Gay bars and clubs represent important venues for conveying the safer sex message.

PIP: Completed questionnaires were received from 173 and 83 gay men attending gay bars and clubs in Edinburgh and Glasgow, respectively, in a study of respondents' sexual behavior and condom use. The questionnaire response rate in Glasgow was half that achieved in Edinburgh. Respondents were of mean age 28 years who had had sex with men in the past year. 21% also reported having at least one female sex partner during that period. 60% reported having more than five sex partners during the previous year. 137 reported using condoms and 119 reported not using them. Condom use was relatively less common among men with less than five years experience as a practicing homosexual. Less than 20% of respondents reported always using a condom during anal intercourse. Orogenital contact without a condom was reported by 84% of all respondents and unprotected anal intercourse by 40%. 31% of condom users and 14% of non-users thought they were at risk of contracting HIV because of their sexual behavior, but 80% of users and 70% of non-users said their lifestyles had been affected by the HIV epidemic. The authors note on the basis of these findings that unprotected anal sexual intercourse remains widely practiced despite some encouraging signs of behavior change. As such, gay bars and clubs are important venues in which safer sex messages could be conveyed.