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Study finds many new Yorkers not practicing safe sex

Despite the availability of rapid HIV testing that provides results in one hour, many New York City residents do not know their HIV status and are at risk for getting or spreading the virus through unsafe sex practices, according to an Aug 7, 2003, news release from New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Human immunodeficiency virus is the leading cause of death among New Yorkers aged 25 to 44. It is estimated that at least 25,000 New Yorkers are infected with HIV but have not yet been diagnosed.

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Data from a telephone survey that collected health information from nearly 10,000 people living in New York City communities show that only 26% of people between the ages of 18 and 64 reported having been tested for HIV during the previous 18 months. Among those who had three or more sex partners, the testing was slightly higher at 34%. In addition, 64% of those surveyed said they did not use a condom during their most recent sexual encounter, and of people who had three or more sex partners in the previous year, 42% reported they did not use condoms.

Condom use varied by age and gender. Of people ages 45 to 64 who had three or more sex partners in the previous year, only 40% used condoms, compared to 73% of 18- to 24-year-olds who had multiple partners. More than one-third of men who had multiple sex partners in the previous year did not use a condom the last time they had sex and nearly two-thirds of women did not.

Seven percent of survey participants reported having risk factors for HIV. Risk factors were defined as having three or more sex partners in a year and not using a condom during the most recent sexual encounter, using IV drugs, having had a sexually transmitted infection during the past year, exchanging sex for money or drugs, or having unprotected anal intercourse. Men who have sex with men reported risk factors for HIV more than other men (21% and 9% respectively). People ages 18 to 24 were twice as likely to report risk factors for HIV than those ages 45 to 64 (10% and 5% respectively).

Sex in the City: New Study Finds It Needs to Get Safer (news release, New York: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Aug 9, 2003) http://www .nyc.gov/html/doh/html/public/press03/pr095-0809 .html (accessed 26 Aug 2003).

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Study finds many new Yorkers not practicing safe sex

AORN Journal, Nov, 2003

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