Risk behaviors related to heterosexual transmission from HIV-infected persons. Supplement to HIV/AIDS Surveillance Study Group.
BACKGROUND
To monitor heterosexually acquired HIV infection, it is important to understand transmission from persons infected with HIV to their sex partners.


OBJECTIVE
To describe sexual behaviors of persons infected with HIV that are related to transmission.


METHODS
Cross-sectional interviews were conducted from January 1995 to December 1998.


RESULTS
Of 4743 heterosexual respondents who had known about their HIV infection for 1 year or longer, 42% were not sexually active and 13% had one sex partner with HIV; the remaining 2099 comprised the sample for analysis. Most respondents were male, black, and of low socioeconomic status. Approximately 60% reported one or more sexual risk behavior. Steady partner's HIV status was the strongest predictor in most models for risk behaviors; those with a partner who was not infected were significantly less likely than those with an infected partner to report any sexual transmission risk behavior (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings point to a continued need to focus on behavioral prevention measures that reduce the heterosexual transmission of HIV.
Lansky
A
A
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention-Surveillance and Epidemiology, National Center for HIV, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
Nakashima
A K
AK
Jones
J L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016358:Contact Tracing; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders