WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) – Several factors amenable to behavioral and structural interventions influence inconsistent condom use in heterosexual couples in which one member is HIV-positive, according to results published in the November 1st Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.
Understanding risk factors for unprotected sex in HIV-serodiscordant couples is important to the planning of programs and interventions to reduce HIV transmission, the authors explain, but heretofore little was known about the extent and correlates of unsafe sex in this group.
Dr. Kate Buchacz from University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California and colleagues examined condom use and risk factors for inconsistent condom use in 145 HIV-serodiscordant heterosexual couples who participated in the California Partners Study II.
Nearly half the couples (45%) reported that they had engaged in unprotected vaginal or anal sex in the past 6 months, the authors report, and only 39% reported consistent use of condoms.
In a multivariate analysis, the researchers report, inconsistent condom use was associated with injection drug use by one or both partners in couples with HIV-infected partners no older than 40 years, African-American couples, lower educational level, anal sex, an HIV-positive bisexual male partner, and a less advanced stage of HIV infection.
In contrast, recent employment by at least one partner was associated with an 80% lower risk of inconsistent condom use.
These findings highlight "the need for behavioral risk reduction and programmatic interventions in this high-risk group to curb sexual HIV transmission," Dr. Buchacz told Reuters Health.
Dr. Buchacz advised, "Health professionals need to reinforce the messages of consistent condom use when counseling persons in steady HIV-serodiscordant partnerships. In addition to sexual risk history, it is important to consider other factors that may contribute to unsafe sexual behavior, such as injection drug use, unemployment, and good health status of the HIV-infected partner."
"Offering information and referrals to HIV/STD testing and risk reduction counseling in the settings of drug treatment and needle exchange programs, and social services and employment offices might help to reach some heterosexual couples at high risk of HIV transmission," Dr. Buchacz said.
JAIDS 2001;28:289-297.
e-Med Tools
קצר קולע וממוקד
e-Med סמינרים
אי-מד תחקירים
Medscape Tools
Journal Club
מרכזי מידע ושירות
Facebook
מידע למפרסם
מאגר תרופות
מאגר אנשי המקצוע
אינדקס שימושי
חדשות משה"ב
eMed HealthClub
מחקרים קליניים
השאירו תגובה
רוצה להצטרף לדיון?תרגישו חופשי לתרום!