Safer Sex in Personal Relationships

Book excerpt: This book focuses on safer sex discussion and practice in close, personal relationships, emphasizing research on individuals in personal relationship types that are experiencing a rise in HIV infection and AIDS. Moving beyond studies of gay adult males and IV drug-users, this work paints a clear picture of the very real risk that exists for these less-studied, more general populations, so individuals may better personalize the risk and engage in more preventative measures. Authors Tara M. Emmers-Sommer and Mike Allen examine issues surrounding safer sex, utilizing research that focuses on how individuals struggle with personalizing the HIV and AIDS risk and how they cope with safer sex issues. Safer Sex in Personal Relationships takes readers on a journey through a variety of close relationship types. It begins by highlighting awareness to the global enormity of HIV and AIDS and providing a link between the global and personal, and the need to make HIV and AIDS awareness part of everyday talk and personal relationship structure. It then focuses on: *safer sex in close relationships, both heterosexual and homosexual; *marital relationships and the importance of safe sex discussion and awareness in marriages; *HIV and AIDS from a multicultural perspective; *HIV and AIDS in aged populations; and *increasing awareness, understanding, and compassion of those living with HIV and AIDS. This book will appeal to scholars and students concerned with HIV and AIDS in personal relationships. It will be an invaluable text for courses on interpersonal communication and relationships; family, marital, human sexuality, sex and gender, gay and lesbian relationships, and sexual education; and relational conflict across communication, psychology, and sociology disciplines.