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HIV testing among gay men in Edinburgh and the Lothians

Main Findings – Sexual Behaviour

Most men (32% of respondents) reported having between 2 and 5 sexual partners in the last year although 21% reported having 6 or more. 43% of men had had one or more unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) partners in the past year and 55% reported at least one UAI partner in the last 5 years.

There was a discrepancy between men’s perceived HIV status and their reported risk behaviour. Of the men who believed their status to be definitely negative, 38% had had at least one UAI partner in the past year and, of the men who thought they were probably HIV negative, 48% reported at least one UAI partner in the past year. 63% of men who did not know their status reported at least one UAI partner in the past year as did 18% of men who described
their status as definitely or probably positive.

Almost one quarter (23%) of men reported having UAI with a partner of unknown status, 64% of whom believed they had put themselves at risk.

Very few men (17%) reported taking more risks sexually now than they had done in the past.

In terms of participants’ perceptions of their own HIV status, 57% said they were definitely negative and a further 24% said they were probably negative. Only 2 men said they were probably positive and 14 men (5%) said they were definitely positive.

There was a discrepancy between men’s perceived status and their testing history. Some men who felt certain of their HIV status had never had a test and equally some men who had received test results in the past currently do not know their status. Thus perceived status often will not reflect actual status.

In terms of optimism about new treatments, respondents were in general quite pessimistic. Very few men agreed that HIV / AIDS is less of a threat because of new treatments or that treatments take the worry out of sex. 88%, however, said they would take treatments if they were diagnosed HIV positive.

Most men did not think that treatments were the main reason why gay men should seek testing. Only 11% agreed that there would be no point in testing if there were no treatments.

The vast majority of men (84%) believed that, if a person is HIV positive, it is that person’s responsibility to ensure that they and their partners have safer sex. Paradoxically, the respondents tended to believe that safer sex responsibility was shared irrespective of HIV status, but also that men who are HIV positive bore a greater responsibility in making sure safer sex occurred.