Condoms Are Reliable but I Am Not": A Qualitative Analysis of AIDS Related Beliefs and Attitudes of Young Heterosexual Adults in Budapest, Hungary, and St. … (original) (raw)
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Central European Journal of Public Health
HIV and STD prevention is an essential component of public health initiatives in countries throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Liberalization in sexual values, declining age at first sex, higher levels of sexual activity, and inconsistent condom use have been well-documented among young people in the region following the political, economic, and cultural transitions after the end of the state socialism era. Less well-understood are the reasons for high-risk sexual behavior and psychosocial factors that must be addressed in the development of effective HIV/STD prevention programs. This study recruited members of 12 high-risk social networks of young adult men and women (n= 66 participants) in two cities,
2006
HIV and STD prevention is an essential component of public health initiatives in countries throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Liberalization in sexual values, declining age at first sex, higher levels of sexual activity, and inconsistent condom use have been well-documented among young people in the region following the political, economic, and cultural transitions after the end of the state socialism era. Less well-understood are the reasons for high-risk sexual behavior and psychosocial factors that must be addressed in the development of effective HIV/STD prevention programs. This study recruited members of 12 high-risk social networks of young adult men and women (n= 66 participants) in two cities, St. Petersburg, Russia and Budapest, Hungary. In-depth focus groups were conducted with all members of each network, and qualitatively analyzed to examine factors surrounding high-risk sexual behavior. Main themes that emerged were that STDs are less known and less feared than AIDS, HIV risk factors were relatively well known among young adults in both countries but vulnerability is perceived differently, pregnancy prevention is a more immediate concern than protection from HIV or STDs, condom use declines quickly following first sex with a new partner, reintroducing condom use in a relationship is very difficult, and young adults report many barriers to condom use including those related to alcohol or other substance use. HIV/STD prevention programs are needed that extend beyond risk education alone and that also address critical psychological, social, and relationship factors related to sexual risk behavior.
2006
HIV infection and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) emerged as public health threats more recently in Eastern Europe than much of the rest of the world. Many Soviet-era health authorities believed that AIDS would never pose a serious threat to socialist countries in Central and Eastern Europe. However, the region witnessed a rapid social transition during the 1990s from authoritarian controls and state socialism to consumer capitalism with increased availability of means to distinguish one’s individuality and status. The institutionalization of market economies went hand in hand with increased personal freedoms and mobility opportunities, as well as the liberalization of formerly conservative sexual behavior values. However, these changes were often accompanied by worsened access to health care, inadequate sexual and contraceptive education, increased drug use, and growth in commercial sex trade. Rates of HIV and STDs increased dramatically in post-Soviet countries and in some of...
International Journal of STD & AIDS, 2002
While rates of HIV and STD infection in Eastern Europe are increasing rapidly, little is known about sexual behaviour, incl\fding condom use, among Eastern European youths. The Study of Hungarian Adolescent Risk Behaviours was designed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours of adolescents studying in secondary schools in Budapest, Hungary. Students (n = 3486) in a random sample of public secondary schools completed a self-administered questionnaire, including measures of sexual activity and condom use. Thirty-eight percent of students reported ever having had vaginar intercourse. Condom use by those reporting having had sex in the past five weeks was classified as consistent / every time (40%); irregular (25.6%); and none (34.3%). Multivariate analysis revealed positive opinio~ about condoms, fear of AIDS, and initiation of condom use by both partners to predict more frequent condom use. Implications for targeted AIDS/Sill education and prevention among adolescents are discussed.
International Family Planning Perspectives, 2007
CONTEXT: Although Croatia is still in an early stage of HIV infection, the rising rates of infection in other central and eastern European countries suggest the need to understand HIV knowledge, attitudes and sexual behaviors among young adults in Croatia. METHODS: Data from a multistage probability sample of 1,093 Croatians aged 18-24 surveyed in 2005 were used in regression models that examined the associations between HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and sexual behavior and predictors of condom use at first and last sexual intercourse and condom use consistency. RESULTS: For both men and women, condom use at first intercourse and positive attitudes toward condom use were the most robust predictors of condom use at last intercourse and consistent condom use. In addition, for women, having peers with less traditional attitudes regarding sexuality was associated with consistent condom use (odds ratio, 1.3). CONCLUSIONS: Risky sexual behaviors are common among young adults in Croatia. Pragmatic and comprehensive sex education programs should target young people before they become sexually active.
Cultural Factors in HIV Risk Among Gay/Bisexual Men in Hungary: A Rapid Assessment Study
Annals of Anthropological Practice , 2020
This paper examines the sexual culture of gay men in Budapest, Hungary, based on research in 2011. HIV prevalence in Hungary is relatively low, compared with the United States, Western Europe, and parts of Eastern Europe (where injecting drug use is common, elevating the HIV rate). This preliminary, qualitative study of 21 gay and bisexual men, examines their social and sexual culture (their norms and values) to in order to explain their low HIV prevalence rate. This low rate is particularly interesting because Hungarian homophobia and inconsistent condom use among gay and bisexual men, are cultural factors that would appear to raise the HIV rate. Cultural and subcultural differences are important in understanding Hungarian gay male behavior, for example, the emphasis on romance and monogamy as an ideal, the importance of one’s personal reputation, a perceived lack of a strong gay community, a failure to use condoms when in love, and infrequent HIV testing. The anthropological concept of romantic love plays a decisive role in sexual decision-making among same-sex couples. However, there is also an accurate knowledge of safer sex. One possible solution to this seemingly contradictory situation, not available at the time of the study, is to promote the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP). PrEP is a daily pill shown to be even more effective than condom use.
Social representations of HIV/AIDS in Central and Eastern Europe
Social Science & Medicine, 2003
Although a relatively recent epidemic, HIV is now increasing in Eastern Europe faster than anywhere else in the world. In the study reported in this paper, we interviewed 511 business people and health professionals in five Central and Eastern European nations: Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Poland and Russia, deriving our questions primarily from a Social Representations perspective. Respondents also freely completed their associations with the stimulus word 'AIDS'. Our findings indicate that, although there is considerable agreement about the threat posed by the epidemic, there are also notable cultural differences in attributions about the origin and spread of the virus and the nature of those groups at risk of infection. These findings are interpreted in the light of the historical legacies of the Communist era, as well as the real economic and social challenges faced by the population of this region. r
The European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care, 2015
Objective To investigate the extent to which romantic relationship status influences condom use during vaginal, oral and anal sex among students from 12 universities in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania and Slovakia. Methods A pilot study of 880 students from the ongoing Student Life Cohort in Europe (SLiCE) study. Multiple logistic regression was conducted to establish the effect of romantic relationship status on condom use during vaginal, anal and oral sex in the previous 30 days, while adjusting for participants' age, gender, use of alcohol and other drugs prior to sex, condom-carrying practices and number of sexual partners. Results Of the total sample, 73.7% were currently engaged in a romantic relationship and their condom use during vaginal sex (p < 0.001), oral sex (p < 0.001) and anal sex (p = 0.003) was significantly associated with their romantic relationship status. Students who were not in a romantic relationship had the lowest odds of condom use. Use of alcohol or other drugs before sex was detrimental to condom use (odds ratio 0.5; p = 0.045) during vaginal sex. Condom use during vaginal and oral sex was lower among older students. Conclusion The need to target university students with more pragmatic sexual health risk reduction interventions that accommodate the role of romantic relationships on behavioural choices is justified.
Adolescent Sexual Behavior and the HIV/AIDS Risk in the Czech Republic
Revija za Sociologiju, 2003
Although the number of HIV-infected persons registered in the Czech Republic might appear very low, the authors caution against false optimism. They point to the risky sexual behavior of Czech youth, who, in spite of having solid knowledge about HIV/AIDS prevention, do not consistently apply it to their sexual practice. From the analysis of this paradox, based primarily on data collected in the city of Brno in 1997, the authors suggest replacing the so-far preferred rational choice theory or the Health Belief Model, as models explaining human behavior, with the more adequate theory of expected utility. While the former theories assume that individuals will make rational decisions and practice safer sex once they are better informed about HIV infection and ways to protect themselves, the latter one allows for the existence of rationality of intimacy, which differs from the scientific rationality of the health system. The theory maintains that, within the realm of intimate relationshi...