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Copyright of Culture, Health & Sexuality is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Culture, Health & Sexuality is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Analytic induction and grounded theory were used to generate and test explanations concerning why members of the Canadian Forces (CF) sometimes engage in risky sexual practices. Interviews were conducted first with seven key informants and later with 71 members of the CF to formulate, test and reshape hypotheses accounting for heterosexual acts without the use of condoms. Findings suggest that unsafe sexual behaviours should not be viewed as irrational or 'deviant'. Rather, they are behaviours that are meaningful for the individuals concerned and conform to certain cultural ideals. Unsafe sexual practices are rooted in localized socially constructed meanings of sex, risk and relationships within the military. The meanings have implications for the ways in which public health information is taken up and used by armed forces personnel, and lead individuals to put themselves at risk of HIV infection and other STDs in certain social contexts. The implications of these findings for policy and intervention development are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores some of the unique aspects of Aboriginal culture that characterize responses to HIV/AIDS in Canada, specifically high-risk sexual behaviour. Six hundred and fifty eight status Indians were randomly selected from eleven Aboriginal reserves to participate in an AIDS-related health survey. Interview techniques were developed to respond to cultural and community sensitivities. Responses from a subset of 566 individuals who answered all relevant questions were analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression to clarify the association between cultural variables and risk-taking. Participation in intercourse was associated with familiarity with Aboriginal traditions, learning about sex from partners and speaking an Aboriginal language. Condom use and the consistency of use were associated with learning about sex from family and through health services. Important challenges exist for the integration of traditional learning methods with knowledge of HIV/AIDS. It is important to understand the conflicting paradigms of Aboriginal tradition, modern medicine and public health service. An awareness of the complexity of culture and differences within and between communities is critical to future research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]