title: Analysis of the influence of therapy and viral suppression on high-risk sexual behaviour and sexually transmitted infections among patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus in Taiwan.
abstract: This study examined the effects of certain characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients related to the risks of practising unprotected sex (UPS) among 919 HIV-infected patients who attended the sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic of the Taipei City STD Control Center, Taiwan, during the period January-July 2004. After learning that they were HIV-positive, 517 (56%) subjects had practised UPS, 476 (52%) had a new STD diagnosis, and 106 (12%) had used some form of injected drug. UPS was reported by 76% of homosexual/bisexual males, 19% of heterosexual males and 5% of females, and was reported more often by those individuals with casual sexual partners (p < 0.001). According to multivariate logistic regression analyses, UPS was associated with male-to-male sexual intercourse (OR 2.46; 95% CI 1.26-4.86, p < 0.001), with casual sexual partners (OR 2.82; 95% CI 1.62-4.88, p < 0.001), and with an individual's knowledge of his/her HIV status for > 11 years (OR 2.06; 95% CI 1.02-4.18, p < 0.05). Although using anti-retroviral therapy to prevent sexual transmission of HIV is rational, the avoidance of at-risk sexual behaviour should also be a priority among HIV-seropositive individuals. Ongoing risk-reduction counselling related to HIV transmission is needed to reduce certain sexual behaviours associated with HIV transmission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Tatung University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: S-C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: S-T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: K-T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: T-R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: L-H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: C-C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: S-F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Yen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000523:psychology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000635:transmission*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000821:virology; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology*; D019562:Viral Load