Increased condom use without other major changes in sexual behavior among the general population in Switzerland.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study is part of a continuous evaluation of the Swiss AIDS prevention strategy from 1987 through 1994. METHODS: Annual telephone surveys of samples representative of the general population aged 17 through 45 years have been conducted since 1987 to monitor behavioral change. RESULTS: No major changes in level of sexual activity (lifetime number of partners, frequency of sexual encounters in the past week) or potential exposure to risk of HIV transmission (acquisition of a new steady partner during the year or of casual partners in the last 6 months) were observed. Systematic condom use with a new steady partner increased between 1988 and 1994, from 40% to 64% among 17- to 30-year-olds and from 57% to 72% among those aged 31 to 45. Systematic condom use with casual partners increased from 8% to 56% between 1987 and 1994 among 17- to 30-year-olds and from 22% to 42% between 1989 and 1994 among those aged 31 to 45. Condom use was higher among those with multiple partners. CONCLUSIONS: A general-population approach to AIDS prevention was able to achieve large-scale improvements in condom-based protection against HIV infection without inducing other major changes in sexual behavior.

Sex in Australia: The rationale and methods of the Australian Study of Health and Relationships

“…The surveys conducted in France, New Zealand, Belgium, West Germany, the Netherlands, Scotland and Switzerland used computer-assisted telephone interviewing. 7,10,14,16,17 Face-to-face interviews were used in the surveys conducted in Britain, the US, Finland, East Germany and Portugal. 6,8,15 Some of the face-to-face interview studies used a self-completed questionnaire for collecting details about sexual behaviour (Britain, US, Finland).…”

“…10,16 Telephone directory-based methods tended to have responses rates that were a little higher, for example 77% in France and 87.5% in Switzerland. 7,17 The reliability of self-reports of sexual behaviour Because cultural taboos forbid direct observation of other people's sexual behaviour, sex researchers rely on self-reports of such behaviour. However, some researchers doubt the validity of self-reports of sexual behaviour.…”

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Related Risk-Taking Behaviors in Women Attending Inner-City Prenatal Clinics in the Mid-West

“…In particular, the effectiveness of such campaigns has been measured in Thailand, where the promotion of condom use in commercial sex has decreased the incidence of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases among military recruits; 20 in Uganda, where anti-HIV campaigns have resulted in a delay in first intercourse and a decrease in casual sex; 21 and in Switzerland, where broad HIV campaigns have increased condom use. 22 The current study did not seek details regarding past exposure to AIDS education, but the marked majority of subjects reported some encounter with a community-based program, supporting the contention that local efforts may be having a beneficial effect.…”

Promoting Early Detection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Among Adolescents

“…63,64 Louisiana has the only evaluated social marketing program in the United States, 65 yet several unevaluated programs have been implemented. 40 Social marketing campaigns must be coordinated with accessible services for youth, including HIV counseling, testing, prevention, and linkage to care.…”