Behavioral and biologic evidence of persistent high-risk behavior in an HIV primary care population.
OBJECTIVE
To define the prevalence of gonorrhea, chlamydial infection, and high-risk sexual behavior in an HIV primary care clinic.


METHODS
Subjects enrolling in this cross-sectional study answered a brief interviewer-administered questionnaire and provided a urine sample for gonorrhea and chlamydia testing.


METHODS
A large urban HIV primary care clinic.


METHODS
HIV-infected patients presenting for a scheduled medical visit from June 1997 to April 1998.


METHODS
Prevalence of self-reported high-risk sexual behavior and gonorrhea and chlamydial infection.


RESULTS
Of 691 patients consenting to the study over a 10-month period, 58% reported sexual activity in the past 90 days, 7.4% reported multiple sexual partners in the past month, and 34.6% did not use a condom at last sexual encounter. Overall, 4.6% reported a history of either gonorrhea or a chlamydial infection in the past year. Of 637 giving a urine sample for testing, the prevalence of chlamydial infection was 2.4%; the prevalence of gonorrhea was 1.6%. Overall, 7.5% of those screened had either current or recent (within 1 year) gonorrhea or chlamydial infection. Current or recent gonorrhea or chlamydial infection was not associated with age, gender, HIV transmission risk, CD4 cell count, HIV viral load, symptoms, or self-reported risk behavior.


CONCLUSIONS
High-risk sexual behavior and unrecognized sexually transmitted diseases (STD) are common among HIV-infected persons followed in primary medical care. Enhanced detection of treatable STD among this population coupled with improved risk-reduction counselling may be important clinical practice measures that can curb the spread of HIV.
Erbelding
E J
EJ
Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Stanton
D
D
Quinn
T C
TC
Rompalo
A
A
D000328:Adult; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000150:complications; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D014505:Urban Population