Not true Royston.

evidence from service providers and surveillance indicates that new adult infections are occurring
as a result of exposure in the UK.
A number of studies point to the widespread unmet need for basic information regarding HIV
transmission, testing and treatment. In particular, cultural practices that place some Africans at particular
risk of transmitting or acquiring HIV requires specific, culturally competent attention. Examples
include: perceptions of condoms, polygamy, meanings attached to sexual behaviours, reproduction,
breast-feeding and secrecy and taboos regarding sex and relationships.
The overall goal of HIV prevention for African communities is to:
• reduce the acquisition and transmission of HIV infection in African people living in England.
• The specific prevention aims are to:
– reduce the sexual transmission of HIV infection among Africans and their partners;
– reduce the vertical transmission of HIV from a mother to her baby;
– reduce the prevalence of undiagnosed HIV in Africans living in England;
– reduce the stigma associated with HIV;

Chapter 4 describes sexual risk and precaution
behaviours. Overall, three quarters of all
respondents were sexually active in the last year.
More than half had a regular sexual partner, which
was more common among men than in women.
One-in-four of those with regular partners said they
had other sexual relationships outside the regular
relationship, again more common in men than
women.
One-in-ten who said they had sex in the last year
reported definitely or probably having sexual
intercourse without a condom with someone of a
different HIV status to themselves (sdUI). The risk
of sdUI increased with larger numbers of sexual
partners.
• Interventions to reduce potentially serodiscordant
unprotected intercourse should
target those in multiple sexual relationships,
particularly men.
Individuals who reported having sex with both
men and women were more likely to have multiple
sexual partners than those who reported sex with
opposite sex or same sex partners only.
A quarter of respondents who had sex in the last
year had not used condoms at all in that time.
Those with fewer sexual partners, and those in a
regular sexual relationship were less likely to use
condoms. Condom use was more common in men
than in women, and mostly reported by those
aged between 20-39 years. Among those who used
condoms, a third had experienced condom failure
in the last year.
• High levels of condom failure may be detracting
from their use. Interventions to increase the use
of condoms should include elements to ensure
minimum condom failure.
Chapter 5 considers HIV prevention need and
demonstrates that general knowledge about the
basics of HIV was fairly high, although many people
perceived the need to know more.