Australia: Music Festival Fans Hear Safe Sex Message

The proportion of youths and young adults testing for STDs and using condoms is increasing, according to a multi-year survey of music festival attendees in Melbourne. Dr. Margaret Hellard of the Burnet Institute in Melbourne and colleagues surveyed more than 5,000 people ages 16-29 at four Big Day Out music festivals staged between 2005 and 2008.

Researchers saw a decline in most sexual risk factors, including the proportion of those reporting a new sex partner in the past three months. Among the 85 percent who reported being sexually active, consistent condom use increased. About 30 percent reported having had more than five sex partners.

The rate of respondents who said they had recently been tested for STDs grew from 23 percent in 2006 to 32 percent in 2008. An increase in testing might explain the rising STD rate among young Australians, rather than an increase in incidence, Hellard said.

"This is an extremely positive outcome as it may indicate that sexual health promotion campaigns targeting young people are successful," Hellard said. "It is possible that the increase in [STD] notifications is due to improved testing rates, and that in time reduced risk behaviors will lead to reduced prevalence of [STDs] in the community."

Researchers used a banner with the slogan "We deal in sex and drugs, let's talk" to attract youths to their tent.

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