PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Raiteri, R
AU  - Fora, R
AU  - Gioannini, P
AU  - Russo, R
AU  - Lucchini, A
AU  - Terzi, M G
AU  - Giacobbi, D
AU  - Sinicco, A
TI  - Seroprevalence, risk factors and attitude to HIV-1 in a representative sample of lesbians in Turin.
AID  - 10.1136/sti.70.3.200
DP  - 1994 Jun 01
TA  - Genitourinary Medicine
PG  - 200--205
VI  - 70
IP  - 3
4099  - http://sti.bmj.com/content/70/3/200.short
4100  - http://sti.bmj.com/content/70/3/200.full
SO  - Genitourin Med1994 Jun 01; 70
AB  - OBJECTIVE--To estimate the HIV-1 seroprevalence, behavioural risks and attitude to HIV-1 infection among lesbians. SETTING--Institute of Infectious Diseases, University of Turin, Italy. SUBJECTS--From March 1992 to May 1993, 181 lesbians were tested for HIV-1 and included in the study. METHODS--Sociodemographic details, nonsexual risks for HIV-1, sexual behaviour, STD history and attitude to HIV-1 were obtained from an anonymous, standardised, self-administered, 30-item questionnaire. Snow-ball techniques were used to recruit the largest possible number of participants. RESULTS--11 lesbians (6.1%) were found to be HIV-1 antibody positive. Of them, 10 were intravenous (i.v.) drug users. STD episodes were higher among lesbians with HIV-1 than without (p = 0.04), increasing in both groups over time. Syphilis, genital herpes and viral hepatitis were highly associated with HIV-1 (p = 0.000). In univariate analysis, i.v. drug use, bisexual behaviour, history of STDs, sex during menses and vaginal/anal manipulation were significantly linked to HIV-1 (p = 0.000). In multivariate analysis only history of i.v. drug use (p = 0.04) and bisexual behaviour (p = 0.06) remained independently associated with HIV-1. Seventy-one participants (39.3%) had already undergone AIDS testing. Only 3.5% admitted to be at risk for HIV-1 and 11% changed their sex habits after first hearing of AIDS. No lesbian had ever practised safe-sex. Television was the most important source of information on HIV-1 (84%). CONCLUSION--I.v. drug use was the most likely means of HIV-1 infecting the lesbians of Turin. The high rate of STDs and the low perceived risk to HIV-1 require programmes of STD prevention and AIDS information to be targeted at the lesbian community.