Swiss Program Improves Condom Use, but Levels of Other HIV Risk-Related Behavior Are Unchanged

Abstract

Switzerlands Federal Office of Public Health launched a national AIDS prevention program in 1986 comprised of a mass mailing of brochures describing HIV transmission and periodic Stop AIDS campaigns to disseminate information to the general public; the development of HIV prevention messages targeting specific groups including adolescents IV-drug users and men who have sex with men; and in-depth information provided to individuals by physicians parents and teachers. Sexuality education programs in schools have complemented the efforts of the national initiative. Evaluation of the program through telephone surveys of nationally representative samples of adults living in Switzerland found significant increases in the levels of condom use since 1986. Between the late 1980s and mid-1990s levels of consistent condom use during casual sexual encounters increased from 8% to 56% among adults aged 17-30 years and from 22% to 42% among those aged 31-45. Consistent condom use with a new steady partner also increased for both age groups. However there have been no changes in mens and womens lifetime number of sex partners frequency of intercourse or behaviors which would increase exposure to HIV by means other than sexual contact. Respondents aged 17-30 and 31-45 reported having medians of 3 and 5 lifetime sex partners respectively.