Testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases: implications for risk behavior in women.
A sample of 808 nonpregnant women residing in an area of high prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) was studied with respect to sexual risk behaviors in the 4-month period before and after testing for a series of STDs. All women were tested for both Chlamydia trachomatis and Trichomonas vaginalis and were given the option of also taking a test for the HIV antibody. Neither the experience of receiving a negative HIV test result nor that of receiving a positive versus a negative diagnosis for STDs resulted in significant mean changes in self-reports of STD or HIV susceptibility, condom use consistency, or number of sexual partners during the 4 months following testing. However, perceived susceptibility was found to predict when women would decrease the consistency with which they used condoms as a function of HIV testing.
Wilson
T E
TE
State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn 11203, USA.
Jaccard
J
J
Levinson
R A
RA
Minkoff
H
H
Endias
R
R
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006801:Humans; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*