Citation

AIDS Policy Law 1996; 11(13): 9.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, Buraff Publications)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11363674

Abstract

A study by Canadian researchers found that young gay men with a history of sexual abuse were twice as likely to have unprotected anal intercourse as gay men who had not been abused. Nearly one third of the 287 gay men in the study sample in Vancouver reported being coerced into having sex. Sexual abuse survivors were more apt to experience depression and self-loathing attitudes, and were more likely than other gay men to use cocaine, tobacco and nitrite inhalants. The findings suggest a vulnerability among male survivors of sexual abuse toward behaviors that place them at risk for HIV infection, and suggest that sexual abuse counseling should be integrated into HIV prevention efforts. Researchers of the study suggest that lingering effects of sexual abuse appear to be a more potent risk factor than the use of either alcohol or drugs.

Language: en