La Eutanasia en la Edad Moderna

This section will enquire about your access to STI testing and condoms.

1. Are you aware of locations or facilities where free or affordable Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing is conducted?

□Yes □ No

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2. Are these facilities or locations where free or affordable STI testing is conducted easily accessible to you?

□Yes □ No

3. Have you ever utilized these STI testing facilities to get tested for HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia etc?

□Yes □ No

Access to Condoms

1. Are you aware of locations or facilities where free condoms are available? □Yes

□ No

2. Are these facilities or locations where you can obtain free condoms easily accessible to you?

□Yes □ No

3. Have you ever utilized any of these facilities to get free condoms? □Yes

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The following questions will ask about your opinions on homosexuality and being gay.

Read each of the following statements. On a scale from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 6 (Strongly Agree), CIRCLE the response that best describes the extent to which you agree with each statement.

1. I believe being gay is an important part of me. 1 2 3 4 5 6

2. I believe it is OK for men to be attracted to other men in an emotional way, but it‘s not OK for them to have sex with each other.

1 2 3 4 5 6

3. When I think of my homosexuality, I feel depressed. 1 2 3 4 5 6

4. I believe that it is morally wrong for men to have sex with other men. 1 2 3 4 5 6

5. I feel ashamed of my homosexuality. 1 2 3 4 5 6

6. I am thankful for my sexual orientation. 1 2 3 4 5 6

7. When I think about my attraction towards men, I feel unhappy. 1 2 3 4 5 6

8. I believed that more gay men should be shown in TV shows, movies, and commercials. 1 2 3 4 5 6

9. I see my homosexuality as a gift. 1 2 3 4 5 6

10. When people around me talk about homosexuality, I get nervous. 1 2 3 4 5 6

11. I wish I could control my feelings of attraction toward other men. 1 2 3 4 5 6

12. In general, I believe that homosexuality is as fulfilling as heterosexuality. 1 2 3 4 5 6

13. I am disturbed when people can tell I‘m gay. 1 2 3 4 5 6

14. In general, I believe that gay men are more immoral than straight men. 1 2 3 4 5 6

15. Sometimes I get upset when I think about being attracted to men. 1 2 3 4 5 6

16. In my opinion, homosexuality is harmful to the order of society. 1 2 3 4 5 6

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17. Sometimes I feel that I might be better off dead than gay. 1 2 3 4 5 6

18. I sometimes resent my sexual orientation. 1 2 3 4 5 6

19. I believe it is morally wrong for men to be attracted to each other. 1 2 3 4 5 6

20. I sometimes feel that my homosexuality is embarrassing. 1 2 3 4 5 6

19. I am proud to be gay. 1 2 3 4 5 6

20. I believe that public schools should teach that homosexuality is normal. 1 2 3 4 5 6

21. I believe it is unfair that I am attracted to men instead of women. 1 2 3 4 5 6

How did you hear about this study? □ Friend

□ Flyer □ Brochure □ On the Internet

179 APPENDIX G. LETTER OF INVITATION

Hello, my name is Winston Abara and I am a doctoral student in the Department of Health Promotion, Education and Behavior at the University of South Carolina. I am conducting a research study and would like to invite you to complete a short survey. Purpose

The purpose of this study is to gather information on how men who have sex with men (MSM) meet other men and the relationship of this to sexual communication, internal feelings about being gay, sexual behavior and their perception of their sexual partners‘ risk.

How you were selected

You were selected because you meet the requirements of the study. These requirements specify that each participant be a man who has had sex with a man in the past, be between the ages of 18 and 29, be able to read and understand English and currently reside in any of the following states – SC, NC, GA, AL, FL, TN & MS.

What you will be asked to do

If you choose to take part in this study, you will be asked to complete a short survey. The survey will enquire about your age, gender, income, sexual behavior, ways you meet other men, your internal feelings about being gay, sexual communication with your partner and your perception of your partners‘ sexual risk. All of your responses to these questions as well as your identity will remain confidential. No personally unique or identifying information will be collected. It should take about 15 minutes to complete the survey.

Risks of being in the study

One of the risks associated with being in the study is the potential for some of the

questions to make you recount some past experiences, which may or may not be negative. If these experiences are negative, you may choose not to answer these questions.

180 Benefits of being in the study

Although you may not benefit directly from the study, you may learn about sexual health as well as the location of some sexual health resources within the community via the pamphlets I will give you at the end of the survey and interview phases. In addition, the information you provide may help in planning improved sexual health promotion programs in the future.

Keeping your answers safe and private

Safeguards will be taken to ensure that any information you provide will be kept safe and private. Interviews will be audio-recorded, with your permission. To protect privacy, you will not be required to provide your names at any point during the interview process. You will be referred to by ID numbers only throughout the study, data analysis and reporting phases. As stated earlier, all survey responses will be kept confidential and in a secure location. Your responses will not be connected to your responses in any way as only ID numbers will be used. You will however provide an email address to which details about the incentive will be sent. Study information will not be shared outside of the context of the study. The results of the study may be published or presented at professional meetings but your identity cannot and will not be known.

Payment for being in the study

You will receive a $10 VISA card upon completion of the surveys. You may choose to accept this or make a donation to a non-profit organization selected from the list provided.

Voluntary Withdrawal

You may withdraw at anytime during the study if you desire, without penalty. However you will not be eligible to receive the $10 VISA card.

Questions

I am happy to answer any questions you may have about this study. You may contact me at [email protected] or 803-735-6437 if you have any study-related questions or problems. If you have any questions about your rights as a research participant, you may contact the Office of Research Compliance at the University of South Carolina at

803.777.7095. Best,

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APPENDIX H.