Survey Shows A.I.D.S. Hard To Get (Press, 5 April 1986)
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Summary: Survey Shows A.I.D.S. Hard To Get (Press, 5 April 1986)
A study conducted by researchers at the University of California School of Public Health aimed to assess the transmission risk of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) among homosexual and bisexual men. The findings were revealed on 5 April 1986, indicating that men who engaged in sexual activities that did not involve intercourse had no higher rates of potential AIDS infection compared to those who abstained from all sexual contact. Dr David Lyman, a key researcher, emphasised the difficulty of transmitting the virus, reinforcing the idea that most people need not fear contracting it easily. The study involved a survey of 821 participants in San Francisco, where researchers gathered data on sexual behaviours and conducted blood tests to check for antibodies related to the AIDS virus. Of the subjects, 56 reported having oral-genital sex without rectal intercourse over the previous two years, while 15 had abstained from any sexual activity. The remainder continued to engage in rectal intercourse. The results showed that 19.6 per cent of those who had only oral-genital contact had developed antibodies to the virus. Conversely, a similar rate of 20 per cent was found in the abstinent group. In contrast, the group that reported continued rectal intercourse displayed a significantly higher percentage of potential infections, with 51.1 per cent having antibodies present. The study surveyed participants from June 1984 to January 1985, and Dr Lyman confirmed that none of the men who engaged solely in oral-genital contact or those who abstained had developed AIDS by the time of the report. However, some men from the rectal intercourse group had been diagnosed with the disease. By March 24, 1986, AIDS had affected over 18,500 individuals in the United States, resulting in nearly 10,000 deaths since the condition was first identified in 1979, according to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. The researchers aimed to disseminate their findings rapidly to mitigate the growing hysteria surrounding AIDS and provide clarity regarding transmission risks among specific sexual practices.
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