Risky Business

HOW MANY HETEROSEXUALS IN THE U.S. ARE practicing safe sex? Precious few, say scientists conducting the first large-scale national sex survey since the original Kinsey study more than 40 years ago. Preliminary results of a telephone canvass of more than 10,000 Americans show that up to 31% of heterosexuals have put themselves at some level of risk for contracting AIDS over the past five years, usually by having multiple sex partners or unprotected sex with someone who is either HIV positive, a blood-transfusion recipient, an intravenous drug user or engaged in some other high-risk behavior.

CHART: NOT AVAILABLE

CREDIT: NO CREDIT

CAPTION: Percent of heterosexuals at risk for HIV who use condoms all the time