Support group participation, HIV viral load and sexual-risk behavior.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the impact of participation in community-based support groups and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral load on sexual behavior among gay men.


METHODS
Using self-administered questionnaires, 46 seropositive support-group participants and 20 seropositive comparison subjects were asked about viral load and frequency of unprotected anal intercourse in 1996 and 1997 following the XI International Conference on AIDS.


RESULTS
Support group participants reported less unprotected receptive anal sex at follow-up than did comparison subjects. Overall, study participants with undetectable viral loads reported more unprotected anal intercourse at follow-up than did participants with detectable viral loads.


CONCLUSIONS
Among HIV-seropositive gay men, knowledge of an undetectable viral load may contribute to high-risk sexual-risk behavior.
Martin
D J
DJ
Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90509, USA. djmartin@ucla.edu
Riopelle
D
D
Steckart
M J
MJ
Geshke
N
N
Lin
S
S
D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003153:Community Health Services; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000821:virology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D019562:Viral Load