One third of young gay men do not know the most basic facts about HIV and its transmission, according to 'On the Move' the findings from the UK Gay Men's Sex Survey 2003, undertaken by Sigma Research and commissioned by Terrence Higgins Trust.

Many young gay men under 20 do not know basic facts about preventing HIV transmission:

• 51 percent did not know that HIV is more likely to be passed on if he or his partner has another STI
• 31 percent did not know that water based lubricant reduces condom failure
• 14 percent did not know that HIV is more likely to be passed on if a man ejaculates inside his partner.

Will Nutland, Head of Gay Men's Health Promotion at Terrence Higgins Trust said: "Once again, research is showing that young gay men are being failed by the sex education system. We are now seeing a post-Section 28 generation of young gay men who are embarking on their sex lives without even the most basic knowledge about how to protect themselves from HIV. Sex and relationship education programmes in schools and colleges need to increase their contribution to meeting young gay men's sexual health needs".

Peter Weatherburn, Director of Sigma Research said: "Our research indicates that young gay men have the greatest HIV prevention need. Compared with other age groups, gay men under 20 are most likely to have been forced to have had sex, are most likely to have problems accessing condoms, and are least likely to benefit from free condom distribution schemes".

Ends

Notes for editors

• The Gay Men's Sex Survey is published annually by Sigma Research
• On The Move was commissioned by Terrence Higgins Trust as part of CHAPS, a national HIV prevention initiative, and financially supported by Health Gay
• Scotland and The Rainbow Project, Belfast
• Copies of On the Move can be downloaded from www.sigmaresearch.org.uk
• Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, providing a wide range of services to over 50,000 people a year. The charity also campaigns and lobbies for greater political and public understanding of the personal, social and medical impact of HIV and AIDS.