Condom use and sexual identity among men who have sex with men -- Dallas 1991.

A survey of 229 men who reported having had homosexual sex examined the role of self-identification as homosexual and of concealment of homosexuality in safe sex practices. Subjects were recruited from 540 men waiting for counseling at the Dallas County (Texas) Health Department between January and June 1991. A self-administered questionnaire examined the topics of sexual identity and comfort in disclosing sexual identity HIV information seeking and exposure to the homosexual or bisexual community culture. Subjects answered on a Likert scale. There were 25 who stated that they were "straight." Reported use of condoms during anal sex with men was significantly higher for men who self-identified as homosexual or bisexual than for those who identified as straight (p<0.0001). Frequency of seeking HIV information in printed materials was also significantly higher for men identified as homosexual or bisexual than for men identified as straight (p<0.01). Those who said they felt comfortable disclosing to family members their sexual orientation reported significantly more consistent condom use (p<0.02). Finally men who said they read homosexual print media also used condoms more frequently than those who denied reading such materials (p<0.001). This study suggests that men who consider themselves straight but who have sex with men need to be targeted for safe-sex teaching.