This article appeared in the Vancouver Courier on June 28, 1996.
by Fiona Hughes
A Vancouver study has found that half of young gay men and bisexual men are having high-risk unprotected sex, despite a decade of prevention efforts.
Half of the participants in the study reported at least a single incident of unprotected anal sex in the past year. Anal sex is one of the highest risk sexual practices for the transmission of HIV.
The study found that young gay and bisexual men are most likely to put themselves at risk within relationships with regular sexual partners. Nevertheless, one quarter of those with casual sex partners also reported at least a single incident of unprotected sex in the last year.
The most common reason cited for having unprotected sex include: being in a long-term or monogamous relationship; being with a partner who is also HIV-negative; being drunk or stoned at the time; and not having a condom.
The findings are based on 300 questionnaires completed by participants in the Vanguard Project, an ongoing study of HIV rates and risk factors in young gay and bisexual men in the Lower Mainland.
For more information, contact:
Bonnie Devlin
Vanguard Project Coordinator
608 - 1081 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6Z 1Y6
Tel: (604)806-8306
Fax: (604)806-9044