Studies Show Majority of Gay Men and Youth Use Condoms

In News by AHF

A survey by AHF studying the effectiveness of its overall social marketing and media found that men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) reported using condoms nearly 64% of the time, while a separate

CDC-sponsored 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) showed that despite a decrease in usage from ten years ago, 59% of young people still report using condoms. 

Despite the CDC’s recent push to encourage high-risk individuals to take a daily AIDS treatment as a form of HIV prevention in a procedure known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), condoms remain the most effective barrier to prevent transmission of HIV and a number of other sexually transmitted diseases.

 

LOS ANGELES (JUNE 18, 2014) A survey by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) studying the effectiveness of its social marketing efforts found that men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) reported using condoms nearly 64% of the time, while the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) sponsored 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) showed that despite a decrease in usage from ten years ago, 59% of young people still report using condoms. Despite a recent push by the CDC to encourage high-risk individuals to take a daily AIDS treatment tablet as a form of possible HIV prevention in a procedure known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), condoms remain the most effective barrier protection to prevent transmission of HIV and a number of other sexually transmitted diseases.

The AHF survey, conducted by L.A.-based Sentient Research, surveyed over 600 people in the Los Angeles area—including 400 gay men and MSM—in February and March of this year. Participants were asked questions about AHF’s extensive social marketing and advertising—including their ‘Awareness & Associated Behaviors’ or their recall of, and reactions to artwork for AHF billboards and bus bench ads as well as print and online advertisements. Study participants also were queried on their sexual practices including condom use during the previous six months. AHF advertising campaigns or artwork that participants viewed included:

* We’ve Got Your Back, * Hook Up With Us, * No Protection, No Action, and * 96% Effective (when Used).

“We are heartened to see that despite rumors and hearsay to the contrary, a majority of gay men report using condoms, which remain by far the most effective method of preventing HIV and STD transmission when used—and when used properly,” said Michael Weinstein, president of AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

In addition, a separate CDC-sponsored 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) (MMWR p#26) released last week showed that despite a decrease in usage from ten years ago, 59% of young people still report using condoms.

“Considering that there is almost no advertising of condoms permitted or happening—on either billboards, television and radio—this is also relatively good news,” added Weinstein.

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