Prospective Students

Infection & Population Health home page

Gay Men's Health

Monitoring high-risk sexual behaviour among homosexual men in London
This annual cross-sectional survey, first conducted in 1995, aims to maintain surveillance of high-risk sexual behaviour among gay men socialising in London and/or using GUM services in London. Beyond describing the nature and extent of high-risk behaviour in the population, the project aims to contribute to the evaluation of the effectiveness of health promotion by analysing trends over time.

The survey was enhanced in 2000 with the introduction of unlinked anonymous saliva testing for HIV in a community sample. This allows for an estimate of HIV prevalence among the non-clinic attending sample and an improved understanding of the demographic and behavioural factors associated with HIV infection. It also assesses the accuracy of self-reported HIV status and proportion undiagnosed.

Investigators: Danielle Mercey

SHARP
Gay men in London are one of the major groups affected by the HIV epidemic in the UK. SHARP (Sex, Health and AntiRetrovirals Project) is a cross-sectional study of sexual risk behaviour and its relation to antiretroviral therapy in HIV positive gay men. Quantitative and qualitative behavioural and clinical data were collected from 420 participants attending the HIV outpatients clinic at Mortimer Market between September 1999 and September 2000 in order to describe systematically the sexual behaviours and sexual health needs of gay men who know they have HIV infection, and to explore the putative impact of new therapies on HIV-related risk behaviour.

Investigators: Judith Stephenson, John Imrie

Back to Epidemiology & Social Science Research Page

This page last modified 24 February, 2010 by IPH Webmaster