From the ArcaMax Publishing, Health & Fitness Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/healthtips/s-370741-480474
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (UPI) -- People often determine a sexual
partner's risk for sexually transmitted disease by how long they have
known each other, Canadian researchers said.
Cindy Masaro of the University of British Columbia and colleagues had
317 people at Canadian STD clinics complete questionnaires. The study
subjects were questioned on their first visit to the clinic and had
not yet been diagnosed with a STD.
A Partner Safety Beliefs Scale was developed to determine the factors
that most influenced perceived partner safety.
The study, published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases,
said study participants endorsed statements indicating that knowing or
trusting a sexual partner influences their beliefs about their
partner's safety.
Linear regression analysis indicated that those well-educated and with
higher incomes were more often considered "safe" from STDs/HIV, the
study said.
The results indicate that many individuals rely on partner attributes
and relationship characteristics when assessing the STD/HIV status of
a sexual partner, and that this reliance is associated with a
decreased perception of personal STD/HIV risk.