A.I.D.S. Brings ‘changes In Lifestyle’ (Press, 14 May 1985)
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Summary: A.I.D.S. Brings ‘changes In Lifestyle’ (Press, 14 May 1985)
A study conducted by researchers at the University of California-San Francisco, published on 14 May 1985, reveals a significant decline in sexual activity among homosexual men in San Francisco amid the rising A.I.D.S. death toll. This study, part of an A.I.D.S. behavioural research project, indicates that since 1982, there have been noteworthy reductions in both the average number of sexual partners and the incidence of sex acts considered to transmit acquired immune deficiency syndrome (A.I.D.S.). Project director Mr Leon McKusick stated, “Gay men have made major changes in their lifestyles in the last 2½ years,” suggesting these adjustments may help to slow the spread of A.I.D.S. in the city. The research included 655 homosexual men and examined their sexual practices from 1982 to 1984. Findings showed a decrease in the monthly average of sexual partners, which fell from 5.9 in November 1982 to 2.5 in November 1984. Additionally, the proportion of men engaging in "unsafe sex"—defined as sexual acts involving significant exchange of bodily fluids—dropped from 47 per cent in November 1983 to 27 per cent in November 1984. The noticeable decline in sexual activity among males is attributed to several factors: the growing number of A.I.D.S. cases, harrowing experiences of witnessing the illness's deadly consequences, and heightened awareness of health guidelines related to A.I.D.S. Since A.I.D.S. emerged, it has claimed 505 lives in San Francisco since 1981 and over 4,300 nationwide in the United States since the disease was first identified in 1979. The disease primarily affects homosexual and bisexual men, intravenous drug users, and individuals with haemophilia. A.I.D.S. is transmitted through sexual contact, the sharing of contaminated needles, and blood transfusions. The study underscores the impact of awareness and lifestyle adjustments on the behaviour of homosexual men in response to the growing A.I.D.S. epidemic.
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