New York City -
Despite concerns that the safe-sex message is being lost of gay men, a New York study shows that men who have sex with men are more likely to use condoms than men who have sex only with women. Nevertheless, more than half the New Yorkers questioned did not use a condom the last time they had sex.
The report, prepared for the New York City Health Department says that men who had gay sex only 45 percent said they used a condom the last time they had sex while only 38 percent of the men who had heterosexual sex used protection.
"HIV is preventable, but too many people are not taking basic steps to protect themselves and their partners," city Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden said in a statement titled "Do Ask, Do Tell."
HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among New Yorkers aged 25-44, and the report found that frequency of condom use was age-specific.
Among people aged 45 to 64, 24 percent said they used a condom the last time they had sex, but among those 18 to 24, the figure was 61 percent, and rose to 73 percent for those who had three or more partners.
People need to talk to their sexual partners about HIV status and condom use, Frieden said
The health department said more than 100,000 New Yorkers were estimated to be living with HIV or AIDS including at least 25,000 who are HIV-positive but have not yet been diagnosed.
"Many people will continue to die from AIDS until everyone with HIV is treated and everyone who is sexually active uses condoms," said Frieden.
The new statistics were compiled from a telephone poll of a random sampling of 10,000 adult New Yorkers.
by Doug Windsor
365Gay.com Newscenter
New York Bureau
©365Gay.com® 2003
The report, prepared for the New York City Health Department says that men who had gay sex only 45 percent said they used a condom the last time they had sex while only 38 percent of the men who had heterosexual sex used protection.
"HIV is preventable, but too many people are not taking basic steps to protect themselves and their partners," city Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden said in a statement titled "Do Ask, Do Tell."
HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among New Yorkers aged 25-44, and the report found that frequency of condom use was age-specific.
Among people aged 45 to 64, 24 percent said they used a condom the last time they had sex, but among those 18 to 24, the figure was 61 percent, and rose to 73 percent for those who had three or more partners.
People need to talk to their sexual partners about HIV status and condom use, Frieden said
The health department said more than 100,000 New Yorkers were estimated to be living with HIV or AIDS including at least 25,000 who are HIV-positive but have not yet been diagnosed.
"Many people will continue to die from AIDS until everyone with HIV is treated and everyone who is sexually active uses condoms," said Frieden.
The new statistics were compiled from a telephone poll of a random sampling of 10,000 adult New Yorkers.
by Doug Windsor
365Gay.com Newscenter
New York Bureau
©365Gay.com® 2003
This article originally appeared on 365gay.com. Republished with permission.
