Will sexual risk behaviour increase after being vaccinated for AIDS?
The question of whether people will engage in greater levels of HIV-associated risk behaviour after receiving an AIDS vaccine has not been sufficiently investigated. Three objectives were: (1) assess the likelihood that people will engage in greater levels of HIV-risk behaviour after receiving an AIDS vaccine; (2) determine the association of increases with vaccination intent; and (3) identify differences between people who would and would not increase their HIV-risk behaviour after vaccination.A cross-sectional survey was conducted of 278 adults from three populations: gay men, African-American women, and persons who used illicit drugs. Nearly one-quarter of the sample indicated a likelihood that their HIV-risk behaviour would increase after vaccination. This increase was positively associated (r = 0.24) with increased intent to be vaccinated. Previous worry about having HIV (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.4, P = 0.004), being 32 years of age or older (AOR = 2.9, P = 0.0007), and having less than a high school education (AOR = 2.3, P = 0.027) were each associated with a post-vaccination increase in HIV risk. With the seemingly real potential for increased HIV-risk behaviours after being vaccinated against AIDS, intervention studies are warranted to identify strategies with potential to minimize this phenomenon.
Crosby
Richard A
RA
College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, 40506, USA. crosby@uky.edu
Holtgrave
David R
DR
D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012747:Sexual Partners; D014611:Vaccination / Q000523:psychology*
D016915:AIDS Vaccines