Ongoing risk behavior among persons with HIV in medical care

AIDS Behav. 2007 Sep;11(5):726-35. doi: 10.1007/s10461-007-9244-5. Epub 2007 May 12.

Abstract

We surveyed randomly selected patients in the largest HIV clinic in Seattle, WA in 2005 and 2006. A total of 397 patients completed usable surveys. Twenty-seven percent of men who have sex with men (MSM) and 22% of women or heterosexual men reported having non-concordant unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse in the preceding year. Compared to 2005, more MSM in 2006 reported meeting a sex partner via the Internet (15% vs. 33%), and fewer met partners in bathhouses (23% vs. 13%). Twenty-four percent of MSM reported deciding not to have sex with a potential partner because he was HIV negative, and 31% of MSM reported that another man had decided not to have sex with them because they were HIV positive. Among all participants, 22% had told a sex partner they were HIV negative since their HIV diagnosis. These findings demonstrate the persistence of high-risk behavior among persons with HIV, a rapid increase in the use of the Internet among MSM to find sex partners, and provide direct evidence for serosorting among MSM.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / prevention & control
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / transmission
  • Adult
  • Anti-Retroviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Therapy / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • HIV Seropositivity / drug therapy*
  • HIV Seropositivity / epidemiology*
  • Homosexuality, Male / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Internet / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk-Taking*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Anti-Retroviral Agents