Sexual orientation, use of drugs and risk perception among HIV-positive men in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The aim of this cross-sectional study, carried out among 250 HIV-positive (HIV+) men who have sex with women, was to describe their risk perception before learning of their HIV+ status and their sexual and drug use behaviour. Of the 250 men, 62.0% were heterosexuals and 38.0% where bisexuals. They most often reported becoming infected through unprotected sex (24.5%) and injecting drug use (11.0%). They were usually tested because they became ill (42.2%). Condom use with women in all episodes of sexual intercourse before HIV+ diagnosis was reported by 22.6% of heterosexuals and 34.7% of bisexuals (P < 0.05). With respect to drug use, 58.0% reported the use of drugs at some period in their lifetime. A higher proportion of individuals who had used drugs perceived themselves at risk (P < 0.05). Findings showed that most HIV+ men who have sex with women, regardless of sexual orientation or injecting drug use, did not use condoms and did not perceive themselves at risk before learning of their HIV+ status, and only undergo testing due to illness. The implications for heterosexual transmission of HIV are discussed.
Filipe
E M V
EM
São Paulo State STD/AIDS Reference and Training Centre and NEPAIDS, São Paulo, Brazil. efilipe@directnet.com
Batistella
E
E
Pine
A
A
Santos
N J S
NJ
Paiva
V
V
Segurado
A
A
Hearst
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001727:Bisexuality; D001938:Brazil; D017280:Condoms; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*