Trends in condom use among nonmonogamous heterosexual men in The Netherlands.

Approximately 1000 people aged 15-45 years were telephone surveyed every six months since 1987 in a quasi-longitudinal study of changes in HIV/AIDS-related knowledge attitudes and behavior in the general Dutch population. 584 men surveyed were nonmonogamous while 3875 were monogamous. Nonmonogamous men were of mean age 26 years while monogamous men were of mean age 31. There were no differences with respect to level of education religious background or political orientation. 68% in April 1987 were aware that condoms protect against sexually transmitted diseases compared to 88% in May 1993 although the percentage who replied that condoms protect against HIV remained relatively steady over time. 61% of nonmonogamous men and 12% of monogamous men took the risk of HIV infection into account with regard to having sexual intercourse. The percentage of nonmonogamous men who said they took measures to prevent HIV infection increased from 22% to 77% over the period April 1987 - May 1993 compared to an increase from 8% to 13% among monogamous men. 92% of the nonmonogamous men who took measures to prevent infection with HIV cited condom use. The percentage of nonmonogamous men who said they had actually used condoms in the preceding six months increased over the period from 28% to 79% while the percentage of nonmonogamous men who said they intended to use condoms in the future increased from 63% in 1987 to 82% in 1993. These findings indicate that nonmonogamous men as a group perceive that they are at increased risk of HIV infection. HIV prevention interventions are however urgently needed for those young men who fail to use condoms at all or consistently.