Attitudes Toward Unprotected Anal Intercourse: Assessing HIV-Negative Gay or Bisexual Men

SUMMARY

HIV prevention programs and clinicians have a need to identify clients' attitudes toward unprotected anal intercourse (UAI). This study reports on the development of the Unprotected Anal Intercourse Attitudes Inventory (UAI-AI), a multi-factorial measure designed to assess gay and bisexual men who are HIV-negative or untested. This self-report measure may be useful in helping both counselors and clients discuss the complex psychosocial issues that can be associated with UAI and safer sex. Factors identified include Anger/Self-Destructiveness/Fatalism, Pleasure Seeking/Risk-Taking/Escapism, Intimacy Needs/Rational Choice Making, Erroneous Perception of Risk, and Condom Related Erectile Dysfunction. Based on their work with hundreds of clients at TalkSafe, a NYC prevention program for HIV-negative gay and bisexual men, the authors suggest clinical guidelines for counseling these populations.

KEYWORDS:

• AIDS
• anal intercourse
• barebacking
• gay and bisexual men
• high-risk sexual behavior
• HIV-negative MSM
• homosexuality
• safer sex
• STI
• Unprotected Anal Intercourse Attitudes Inventory