Last Chance to Join Gay Panel

posted: 10/02/2011

Gay and Bi men have a last chance (until midday on Friday 11 February) to join a national panel of over 3000 men to  help steer the future of HIV prevention and better sexual health services in England for gay and bi men.
 

This Sigma Panel is community-based research with gay and bi men. There’s a survey to do when you sign up, then (if you join in the rest of the research), short surveys every month, for a year. Your answers stay anonymous.
 

The research asks about relationships, sex life, risks and precautions, and use of health services.

They are keen to find out what influences the choices men make during sex.

Each month you’ll find out what men said in previous months' surveys.

They’ll ask you if you have any questions for the other gay and bi men on the panel to answer.
 

Sigma Research has been carrying out community-based HIV research for over 20 years, including men and women living with HIV who use George House Trust services.
 

Want to take part?
If you would like to be involved improving the health of gay and bisexual men by taking part in this research or to get more information please visit the sigmapanel before midday, Friday 11 February.

No Fear in HIV Prevention

posted: 09/11/2010

Using fear as a tool for HIV prevention, like in the 1980s British AIDS tombstone and icebergs campaigns, causes more harm than good, according to a recent review of the evidence.

The idea behind the AIDS tombstones and icebergs was that making people fear death would encourage self preservation by using condoms. Similar fear approaches to HIV prevention were used in the United States, and in Australia (with images of the Grim Reaper).

Following the success of HIV treatments, fear arousing campaigns have picked out some unwanted treatment side effects (for example, facial wasting and diarrhoea).

Attention Grabbing, but does fear work?
Campaigns arousing fear are good at grabbing public attention by using graphic imagery, simplistic language and shocking statements. Fear campaigns are often very memorable.

Recently the use of fear has increased in other health promotion campaigns highlighting the harm from smoking, excess alcohol use, and drug use. The public has great faith in the use of fear to change behaviour.

Frustration
The media, including the gay press, have been calling for more emphasis on harm from sexual risks. The public and campaigners are frustrated at high rates of HIV and STI infection in the UK and the lack of progress in reducing these. That is often behind the calls for what seems to be an ‘obvious solution’.

Does using fear of HIV work?
Would using more fear in HIV prevention work? The role of fear in HIV prevention is written as a guide for gay men’s HIV prevention workers, but many other people, including people with HIV, are very interested in this and have strong views about it. It is an interesting and informative read in four illustrated pages.

It looks at the scientific evidence for whether fear works or not, considers the ideas behind it, and looks into the unforeseen consequences and risks of using fear in HIV campaigns.

Fear is for the Fearless
Fear only works with people who are not frightened by HIV. But 98% of gay men say (in Gay Men’s Sex Survey, 2008) they agree or agree strongly that “HIV is still a very serious medical condition.” So almost every single gay and bi man is already fearful of HIV. Perversely, adding to that fear can make things worse for the men at more risk of HIV.

As Adam Bourne says: “It will remain a constant challenge for those promoting sexual health and well-being to attract the attention of their target audience among the many other advertisements that compete for their attention.

“The temptation is to produce shocking or explicit imagery, which may stand a better chance of being noticed or being remembered.

“However, it is doubtful whether it will actually be successful at influencing behavioural choices.

“Most gay men and other men who have sex with men are already motivated to avoid HIV, but some still lack the knowledge or the power to do so.”

“Inducing fear is not an effective way to promote previous HIV relevant learning or condom use either immediately following the intervention, or later on.

However, HIV counselling and testing can provide an outlet for previous HIV-related anxiety and, subsequently, gains in both knowledge and behaviour change immediately and longitudinally.”

Earl & Albarracin, 2007

Read The role of fear in HIV prevention, Adam Bourne, 2010, Sigma Research Briefing no.1 for the CHAPS gay and bi men’s HIV prevention partnership 
 

HIV Prevention for Africans in England

posted: 12/10/2010

KWP in Practice is a new website and planning toolkit for meeting the HIV prevention needs of African people in England. The site combines and updates the two key documents, The knowledge, the will and the power, and the African HIV prevention handbook, which were both produced by Sigma Research for the National African HIV Prevention Programme.
 

Whether you fund HIV prevention for African people, or you plan and deliver these, the website's modular, practical, toolkit approach has something to offer.
 

Condom use briefing

The new website has a useful new detailed Briefing on condom use among African people in England.

In the Bass Line survey undertaken with more than 2,000 African people in 2008-09,

• one third (30%) of those who had used condoms said that one had slipped or broken off in the past year.
• More than one third (32%) said they would worry about what others thought of them if they carried condoms.
• One fifth (20%) said they sometimes had problems getting hold of condoms.

Condoms and Africans in England seminars
 

You can also book a place at a seminar about condom use among Africans in England, in either Leeds or London.
 

These full-day seminars are for service providers, clinical staff and commissioners who want to learn and share experiences of meeting the needs of African people regarding to male and female condoms. Sigma staff and local experts will lead a day of practical discussion and debate.

The seminars start at 10:30am and end at 16:30pm.
 

Book the Leeds condom seminar Tuesday 26 October 2010

Book the London condom seminar Wednesday 3 November 2010