title: Sexual risk behaviors in late middle age and older HIV seropositive adults.
abstract: Little is known about the sexual behaviors of older adults, although the prevalence of HIV/AIDS is rapidly increasing in this population. As part of a larger multi-site study examining secondary HIV prevention, we recruited from an HIV primary care clinic 210 sexually active HIV positive individuals aged 45 and over (125 men, 85 women) who had engaged in vaginal or anal sex within the past six months. Twenty percent of the participants reported inconsistent use of condoms and 33% had multiple sexual partners during the previous six months. Negative mood and perceived HIV stigma were associated with inconsistent condom use. In addition, multiple sex partners and higher level of education were related to inconsistent condom use during sex with partners of negative or unknown serostatus. These findings indicate that contrary to current beliefs, sexually active older adults, similar to younger ones, may be engaging in high risk transmission behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1695 NW 9th Ave, Miami, FL 33131, USA. lilla@med.miami.edu
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Illa
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brickman
authors.forename: Gilbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saint-Jean
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Echenique
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Metsch
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eisdorfer
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bustamante-Avellaneda
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Martinez
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D000368:Aged; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013240:Stereotyping