Sexual Relapse
HIV Counselor PERSPECTIVES
V1, N1, January 1991
Test Yourself
- True or False: Relapse into unsafe sexual practices can be
eliminated if an individual is willing to commit to avoid unsafe
sex.
[answer]
- Most unsafe sex is attributed to individuals who a) never
adopted safer sex practices, b) have relapsed into unsafe sex after
having practiced safer sex, c) believe all activities are safe, d)
none of the above.
[answer]
- True or False: Many researchers say that unsafe sex can best be
eliminate from an individual's behavior by viewing it as a
short-term change.
[answer]
- One study showed that rates of relapse are highest in San
Francisco among a) older men, b) younger men, c) well-educated men,
d) long-time residents of the city.
[answer]
- Alcohol use often leads individuals to practice unsafe sex
because alcohol can a) impair motor coordination and make condom
application more difficult, b) deter judgment, c) create feelings
that risk-taking is acceptable, d) all of the above.
[answer]
- True or False: Relapse is often attributed to emotional
factors.
[answer]
- True of False: STD infection among gay men is decreasing.
[answer]
- What percentage of participants in a San Francisco survey
committed to avoid unsafe sex, but broke this commitment and
engaged in unsafe sex? a) 75%, b) 4%, c) 16%, d) 50%.
[answer]
Discussion Questions
- Do you think relapse is a problem among the clients you've been
seeing for HIV antibody testing? Why or why not.
- What would your strategy be if you were working with a client
who reported recent slips into unsafe behavior? What information
would you need to gather? What suggestions and general counseling
would you offer?
- What are some possible referrals that might help the client
reporting relapse?
- Do you think a discussion of relapse should be a standard part
of antibody test counseling? Why or why not? If so, when would
you have this discussion? In the pre-test session? In the
post-test session?
- Are there clients for whom the issue of relapse is not relevant?
If so, who would they be?
Answers to "Test Yourself"
- False. Vows to eliminate unsafe sex can be broken by many
factors, including use of alcohol and other drugs, low self-esteem
or self-assertion, depression, stress or falling in love.
- B. Researchers estimate that in San Francisco as much as 75%
of all unsafe sex could be attributed to relapse, with only 25% of
those performing unsafe sex having always practiced unsafe sex.
- False. To eradicate unsafe sex, individuals must view it as
a permanent behavior change. The tendency to view it as a short-
term change makes an individual more susceptible to relapse.
- B. Younger men are most likely to relapse into unsafe sex.
- D. Alcohol can have all of these effects.
- True. Individuals often cite emotions of being "in love", an
"overwhelming sexual desire" or stress as reasons for relapsing
into unsafe sex.
- False. Rates of STD infection among gay men are increasing
in many parts of the country, and a report in the Seattle, Wash.,
area showed a dramatic increase in the cases of gonorrhea for 1989.
- C. 16% of the individuals who made a commitment to avoid
unsafe sex had broken this commitment.
HIV Counselor PERSPECTIVES V1 N1
ss-admin@safersex.org
(Sun Jan 1 22:16:52 1995)
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