@article {Stoner197, author = {B P Stoner and W L H Whittington and S O Aral and J P Hughes and H H Handsfield and K K Holmes}, title = {Avoiding risky sex partners: perception of partners{\textquoteright} risks v partners{\textquoteright} self reported risks}, volume = {79}, number = {3}, pages = {197--201}, year = {2003}, doi = {10.1136/sti.79.3.197}, publisher = {The Medical Society for the Study of Venereal Disease}, abstract = {Background: Key strategies advocated for lowering personal risk of sexual exposure to STD/HIV include having fewer partners and avoiding risky partners. However, few studies have systematically examined how well people can actually discern their sex partners{\textquoteright} risk behaviours. Methods: We conducted face to face interviews with 151 heterosexual patients with gonorrhoea or chlamydial infection and 189 of their sex partners. Interviews examined the patients{\textquoteright} perceptions of their sex partners{\textquoteright} sociodemographic characteristics and risk behaviours. Patients{\textquoteright} perceptions of partners were then sociometrically compared for agreement with partner self reports, using the kappa statistic for discrete variables and concordance correlation for continuous variables. Results: Agreement was highest for perceived partner age, race/ethnicity, and duration of sexual partnership; and lowest for knowledge of partner{\textquoteright}s work in commercial sex, number of other sex partners, and for perceived quality of communication within the partnership. Index patients commonly underestimated or overestimated partners{\textquoteright} risk characteristics. Reported condom use was infrequent and inconsistent within partnerships. Conclusion: Among people with gonorrhoea or chlamydial infection, patients{\textquoteright} perceptions of partners{\textquoteright} risk behaviours often disagreed with the partners{\textquoteright} self reports. Formative research should guide development and evaluation of interventions to enhance sexual health communication within partnerships and within social networks, as a potential harm reduction strategy to foster healthier partnerships.}, issn = {1368-4973}, URL = {https://sti.bmj.com/content/79/3/197}, eprint = {https://sti.bmj.com/content/79/3/197.full.pdf}, journal = {Sexually Transmitted Infections} }