Key findings
- For the most part, the men in this sample were similar to men in other samples of Australian gay men. The patterns of sexual behaviour described in this sample are very similar to findings in other samples of gay men, although the proportion of men reporting unprotected anal intercourse with casual partners in this sample was somewhat lower than has sometimes been found in samples not primarily recruited via the internet.
- Nonetheless, it is worth remembering that these data support the often-noted point that most gay men continue to practise safe sex most of the time.
- Overall, men in this sample had relatively limited social connections with people living with HIV compared with other samples of Australian gay men. Nonetheless, some men were highly connected to gay community life and to the HIV epidemic while others were not.
- Among men who had been tested for HIV, few men were tested because they felt they had placed themselves at risk, although unsurprisingly this was more common among men who had actually engaged in recent risk behaviour.
