Sex and the modern medical student — the effect of Aids publicity

Abstract

TO assess the impact of the Government 'Don't die of ignorance' Aids campaign, which began in Decem ber 1986, a retrospective questionnaire was admin istered to medical students at Birmingham University in October 1987. Three hundred and fifty two students replied (a 58 per cent response rate) about their sexual behaviour during the nine months prior to and nine months following the campaign. There were two homosexuals, three bisexual males and no lesbians or bisexual females. The results show that sexual behaviour and the use of condoms among heterosexuals having multiple partners (15 males, 9 females) did not change significantly. Never theless, there was confusion about HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) transmission routes: 15.7 per cent considered that blood donation, and two per cent that masturbation, have some risk of HIV trans mission, while 12.5 per cent considered that blood transfusion, and 23.3 per cent that oral sex, carried a high risk of HIV transmission.