AIDS knowledge and sexual behavior among Mexican gay and bisexual men.

ABSTRACT

PIP: Two hundred gay and bisexual men of mean age 26.4 years from Juarez, Mexico, were interviewed by the Mexican Federation of PRivate Associations for Community Development (FEMAP) about their AIDS knowledge, sexual behavior, and condom use. 88% were single and never married. 66% self-identified as being gay, 29% as bisexual, and 2% as transvestites; 10% reported having sex for money. 14% had had at least one sexually transmitted disease and 57% were negative about condom use. Having an average 4.46 sex partner/month, most respondents were knowledgeable about HIV transmission routes, AIDS symptoms, and HIV antibody tests. 75% and 77.5%, respectively, reported practicing receptive anal intercourse and insertive anal intercourse. They used condoms an average of 6.47 times in their most recent ten sexual encounters. By profession and social behavior, factory workers and individuals who recruit sex partners from the street reported having more sex partners than service and professional workers and those who meet their partners in bars and discos. Further, the number of sex partners and respondents' age were inversely associated with condom use. These findings clearly highlight the failure of knowledge about HIV to bring about change in sexual behavior among certain subpopulations in the study area. Since homosexuality remains unaccepted in Mexican society, the author suggests targeted peer education and small-group session prevention efforts which do not confront mainstream social structure and values.