Sexual partnering and risk of HIV/STD among Aboriginals.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the contribution of patterns of sexual partnering to the spread of HIV/STD infection between communities.


METHODS
651 randomly selected Aboriginals from 11 reserve communities in Ontario were interviewed. This analysis included those who had sex in the previous 12 months. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analyses identified associations with patterns of sexual partnering.


RESULTS
22% reported having partners from both within and outside the community, 51% from within only, and 27% from outside only. Those with partners from both within and outside were more likely to be male, unmarried, from a remote community, have more sexual partners and perceive that their behaviour placed them at higher risk of HIV/STD infection. They were least likely to perceive their community to be at risk from their behaviour.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that Aboriginal communities are not insulated and that HIV could spread rapidly if introduced.
HIV Social, Behavioural and Epidemiological Studies Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto.
L M
LM
Calzavara
S L
SL
Bullock
T
T
Myers
V W
VW
Marshall
R
R
Cockerill
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000635:transmission; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires