Sexual behaviour and its medicalisation: in sickness and in health

No abstract available

Sexual behaviour and HIV/sexually transmitted infection risk behaviours in the general population of Slovenia, a low HIV prevalence country in central Europe.

OBJECTIVES: To describe sexual and HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) risk behaviours in Slovenia. METHODS: A nationally representative cross-sectional survey of the general population aged 18-49 years in 1999-2001 was conducted. The data were collected by face-to-face interviews and anonymous self-administered questionnaires. Statistical methods for complex survey data were used. RESULTS: 849 men and 903 women were interviewed. In the past 5 years, both men and women reported a median of one heterosexual partner (means 3.2, 1.5, respectively), concurrent heterosexual partnerships were reported by 24.4% of men and 8.2% of women, heterosexual sex with non-Slovenian partners by 12.6% of men and 12.2% of women, forced sex by 4.8% of women, paid heterosexual sex by 2.6% of men, sex with another man by 0.6% of men and heterosexual sex with an injecting drug user by 1.2% of men and 1.3% of women. In the past year, 22.7% of men and 9.5% of women reported forming at least one new heterosexual partnership. The mean numbers of episodes of heterosexual sex in the previous 4 weeks were 6.1 for men and 6.0 for women. Consistent and inconsistent condom use was reported more frequently among men reporting multiple female partners and those not married or cohabiting. CONCLUSIONS: Recent patterns of reported sexual behaviour are consistent with a low risk of HIV and STI transmission in Slovenia. The results will inform Slovenian sexual health policies including HIV/STI prevention, and are particularly valuable because population-based data on HIV/STI risk behaviour have not previously been available in low HIV prevalence countries of central Europe

Views and experiences of men who have sex with men on the ban on blood donation: a cross sectional survey with qualitative interviews.

OBJECTIVE: To explore compliance with the UK blood services' criterion that excludes men who have had penetrative sex with a man from donating blood, and to assess the possible effects of revising this policy. DESIGN: A random location, cross sectional survey followed by qualitative interviews. SETTING: Britain. PARTICIPANTS: 1028 of 32,373 men in the general population reporting any male sexual contact completed the survey. Additional questions were asked of a general population sample (n=3914). Thirty men who had had penetrative sex with a man participated in the qualitative interviews (19 who had complied with the blood services' exclusion criterion and 11 who had not complied). Main outcome measure Compliance with the blood services' lifetime exclusion criterion for men who have had penetrative sex with a man. RESULTS: 10.6% of men with experience of penetrative sex with a man reported having donated blood in Britain while ineligible under the exclusion criterion, and 2.5% had donated in the previous 12 months. Ineligible donation was less common among men who had had penetrative sex with a man recently (in previous 12 months) than among men for whom this last occurred longer ago. Reasons for non-compliance with the exclusion included self categorisation as low risk, discounting the sexual experience that barred donation, belief in the infallibility of blood screening, concerns about confidentiality, and misunderstanding or perceived inequity of the rule. Although blood donation was rarely viewed as a "right," potential donors were seen as entitled to a considered assessment of risk. A one year deferral since last male penetrative sex was considered by study participants to be generally feasible, equitable, and acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: A minority of men who have sex with men who are ineligible to donate blood under the current donor exclusion in Britain have nevertheless done so in the past 12 months. Many of the reasons identified for non-compliance seem amenable to intervention. A clearly rationalised and communicated one year donor deferral is likely to be welcomed by most men who have sex with men

Learning about sex: Results from Natsal 2000.

11-13 September 2002

Methods for assessing quality characteristics of non-grain starch staples. (Part 3. Laboratory methods.)

This manual sets out in a four-part publication the main methods necessary to evaluate the quality characteristics of nongrain starch staple (NGSS) food crops (cassava, sweet potato, banana, plantain, yam and cocoyam) and their processed products. It is designed to be a reference source and laboratory guide for food analysis laboratories and those concerned with the quality of NGSS. It is hoped that the provision of this manual and its active promotion through workshops will assist in the uptake of quality assessment methodologies, the setting of quality standards and to the improved quality of fresh material and their processed products. It is expected that the audience for this manual will be wide ranging and include: • public sector research and development establishments such as universities, colleges and research institutes-this would include bodies responsible for NGSS breeding programmes and food and nutrition programmes; • bureaux of standards/quality standards boards and other bodies responsible for setting and monitoring the standard of foods and raw materials within the NGSS sector; and • private sector quality control laboratories wishing to implement quality assurance systems utilizing NGSS or their by-products as raw materials for food or industrial applications. Different groups may wish to use different parts of the manual. The manual is divided into four parts: • Part 1 Introductory section; • Part 2 Field methods: methods that require a minimum of equipment and are suitable for use in situations where a laboratory is not readily available; • Part 3 Laboratory methods: this part brings together most of the standard laboratory methods for the analysis of NGSS food crops; and • Part 4 Advanced methods: in this part a diverse range of techniques is brought together. It includes methods of a more advanced nature and possibly requiring more sophisticated equipment than described in Part 3. This section may be used for research purposes

Methods for assessing quality characteristics of non-grain starch staples. (Part 2. Field Methods.)

This manual sets out in a four-part publication the main methods necessary to evaluate the quality characteristics of nongrain starch staple (NGSS) food crops (cassava, sweet potato, banana, plantain, yam and cocoyam) and their processed products. It is designed to be a reference source and laboratory guide for food analysis laboratories and those concerned with the quality of NGSS. It is hoped that the provision of this manual and its active promotion through workshops will assist in the uptake of quality assessment methodologies, the setting of quality standards and to the improved quality of fresh material and their processed products. It is expected that the audience for this manual will be wide ranging and include: • public sector research and development establishments such as universities, colleges and research institutes-this would include bodies responsible for NGSS breeding programmes and food and nutrition programmes; • bureaux of standards/quality standards boards and other bodies responsible for setting and monitoring the standard of foods and raw materials within the NGSS sector; and • private sector quality control laboratories wishing to implement quality assurance systems utilizing NGSS or their by-products as raw materials for food or industrial applications. Different groups may wish to use different parts of the manual. The manual is divided into four parts: • Part 1 Introductory section; • Part 2 Field methods: methods that require a minimum of equipment and are suitable for use in situations where a laboratory is not readily available; • Part 3 Laboratory methods: this part brings together most of the standard laboratory methods for the analysis of NGSS food crops; and • Part 4 Advanced methods: in this part a diverse range of techniques is brought together. It includes methods of a more advanced nature and possibly requiring more sophisticated equipment than described in Part 3. This section may be used for research purposes