Sexual risk behaviors of STD clinic patients before and after Earvin "Magic" Johnson's HIV-infection announcement--Maryland, 1991-1992.

During the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic, media and public interest have been captured periodically by accounts of persons infected with HIV. However, the effect of these stories on HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) awareness and sexual behaviors is largely unknown. On November 7, 1991, Earvin "Magic" Johnson announced at a press conference he was infected with HIV and would be retiring from professional basketball. This report summarizes findings on the self-reported sexually transmitted disease (STD)/HIV sexual risk behaviors of patients of an STD clinic in a Maryland suburb of Washington, D.C., during the 14 weeks before and the 14 weeks after Johnson announced he was infected with HIV.