Half Of Gay Men Surveyed Admit Having Unprotected Sex

IRELAND - An all-Ireland survey examining the sexual health and attitudes of gay and bisexual men, has found almost half of men surveyed had taken part in unprotected intercourse.
Findings from the survey, carried out in 2003 and 2004, were presented at the fourth annual Gay Health Forum by the HSE, funded Gay Men’s Health Project, in Dublin Castle. They indicated a reduction in the number of respondents who were tested for HIV (46.6 per cent in 2004 compared with 69.9 per cent in 2000).
Mr Mick Quinlan, Gay Men’s Health Project Co-Ordinator said the results “highlight the need for continuation of our on-going health and education outreach programme”. “They also draw attention to the necessity to promote such campaigns among men from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds, in order to ensure that all men have been exposed to information regarding best sexual health practice.”
Men under 20 were the least likely to have been tested for HIV while men in their 30s and 40s were the most likely to receive a positive result.
Those with higher qualifications were most likely to have taken a test and those with positive results were more likely to have experienced unemployment.
Some 7.6 per cent of men had been forced to engage in sexual activity against their will.
The Gay Men’s Health Project provides clinical, outreach and counselling services to gay and bisexual men.
from The Irish Medical News