ABSTRACT
This is a study of gay men’s sexual behaviour under the impact of AIDS which uses the method of diaries. It is an integral part of the work of Project SIGMA (Socio-Sexual Investigations of Gay Men and AIDS), which is a longitudinal study of the sexual and social lifestyle of gay and bisexual men in England and Wales (and also part of the English study under the auspices of WHO Global Programme on AIDS Homosexual Response Studies). SIGMA is one of the largest cohort studies in Europe and the only study in the UK to have emerged from the gay community. Initial work began in 1983, and funding followed in 1987. To date, the Project has interviewed over 1000 men, half of whom have been interviewed four times at (median) intervals of 10 months. The main aims of the study are to describe the sexual behaviour and lifestyles of gay and bisexual men; to monitor changes in sexual behaviour in relation to HIV/AIDS; to examine attitudes to different sexual behaviours and relationships; to investigate reactions to safer sex practices; and to estimate prevalence of HIV and other viral infections in a non-clinic group of gay and bisexual men.
