GAYSURVEY: Enquête nationale sur les comportements et les attitudes face au VIH/sida des hommes ayant des relations sexuelles avec d'autres hommes: 1992 - 1994 - 1997 - 2000 - 2004
The evaluation of the results of the HIV / AIDS prevention strategy for men who have sex with men (MSM) is based on a repeated regular survey of this population in German and French-speaking Switzerland (MSM survey, conducted by IUMSP / UEPP).
Six surveys (1987, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2000) make it possible to follow the evolution of the preventive behavior of MSM in Switzerland. These studies all used a questionnaire that was disseminated via the homosexual press and organizations. The main questions have been maintained and new themes have been added based on needs and interests. Between 800 and 1200 questionnaires were returned depending on the year.
It is impossible to assess the representativeness of this type of self-selected sample since the general population surveys (EPSS) (see Project no. 613) do not allow to establish a detailed profile of the homosexual population. It is believed, however, that respondents, as newspaper readers or members of gay organizations, belong to the most sexually assertive, most informed and most motivated segment of the gay population in terms of prevention. Young people are poorly represented in this type of survey. It is possible that participation biases lead to overestimation of protection levels without affecting the validity of temporal trends.
The main socio-demographic characteristics of the samples changed little between 1987 and 2000 (level of education, place of residence, sexual orientation, community affiliation). However, there has been a fairly pronounced aging of the responding population since 1997. The proportion of respondents under 30 years of age decreased by about half between 1994 and 2000.