The Nation - News from Aug. 15, 1988

Asking about a sexual partner’s health or sexual history is not a reliable means of avoiding AIDS because many people lie to have sex, according to a survey. One-third of sexually experienced male college students and 10% of women admitted in a study that they have told a lie to get someone to sleep with them, Susan Cochran, associate professor at Cal State Northridge, said. Cochran, who described results of her survey at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Assn. in Atlanta, said she began the study after noticing that many women were asking sex partners about past behavior that carries a risk of AIDS infection as a way to reassure themselves about having sex with the man. But she said that questioning partners about their drug use and sexual history is not an effective substitute for taking precautions, such as using condoms.