Oral contraception and unprotected sex with occasional partners of women HIV-infected through injection drug use.
Among HIV-infected women, unprotected sex with the main sexual partner is common practice. Conversely, studies about condom use with sexual partners of unknown HIV sero-status are sparsely reported. We aimed to assess the impact of oral contraception on unsafe sexual behaviours with occasional partners in women HIV-infected through injection drug use. The analysis focused on 90 women, enrolled in the French cohort MANIF 2000 and reported having engaged in sexual relationships with occasional partners during a 48-month period. Visits where women reported unprotected sex with occasional partners in the prior 6 months were compared to visits where they reported protected sex using a logistic model based on Generalised Estimating Equations. Unprotected sex with occasional partners was independently associated with oral contraception (OR[95%CI] = 3.2[1.4-7.2]), reporting only one occasional partner (OR[95%CI] = 3.1[1.6-6.2]) and antiretroviral treatment receipt. No significant association was found between unprotected sex and CD4 level or plasma viral load. With the growing population of people living with HIV as a chronic infection, the development and evaluation of HIV-prevention interventions tailored toward women remain a public health priority. Risk reduction counselling and interventions are needed to promote either the use of dual contraception or, alternatively, that of female condom.
Carrieri
M P
MP
INSERM Research Unit 379, Marseille, France. Pmcarrieri@aol.com
Rey
D
D
Serraino
D
D
Trémolières
F
F
Méchali
D
D
Moatti
J P
JP
Spire
B
B
D000328:Adult; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral