Recent multiple sexual partners and HIV transmission risks among people living with HIV/AIDS in Botswana.
BACKGROUND
HIV prevalence in Botswana is among the highest in the world and sexual networking patterns represent an important dimension to understanding the spread of HIV/AIDS.


OBJECTIVE
To examine risk behaviour associated with recent multiple sexual partnerships among people living with HIV/AIDS in Botswana.


METHODS
Confidential brief interviews were administered to 209 HIV positive men and 291 HIV positive women recruited conveniently from HIV/AIDS support groups and antiretroviral clinics. Measures included demographics, duration of HIV diagnosis, sexual partnerships, condom use, and HIV status disclosure.


RESULTS
The response rate was 63% and 309 (62%) participants were currently sexually active, of whom 247 (80%) reported only one sex partner in the previous 3 months and 62 (20%) reported two or more partners during that time. Condom use exceeded 80% across partner types and regardless of multiple partnerships. Steady sex partners of participants with multiple partnerships were significantly less likely to be protected by condoms than steady partners of individuals with only one sex partner. Individuals with multiple sex partners were also significantly less likely to have disclosed their HIV status.


CONCLUSIONS
Multiple sexual partnerships, many of which are probably concurrent, are not uncommon among sexually active people living with HIV in Botswana. HIV prevention is needed for all individuals who are at risk and assistance should be provided to HIV infected people who continue to practise unprotected sex with uninfected partners or partners of unknown HIV status.
Kalichman
Seth C
SC
Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA. seth.k@uconn.edu
Ntseane
Dolly
D
Nthomang
Keitseope
K
Segwabe
Mosarwa
M
Phorano
Odireleng
O
Simbayi
Leickness C
LC
D000328:Adult; D001902:Botswana / Q000453:epidemiology; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D012747:Sexual Partners; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014504:Urban Health