Sexual partner concurrency among STI clinic patients with a steady partner: correlates and associations with condom use.
OBJECTIVE
Partner concurrency facilitates the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In this study, we sought to (1) determine the correlates of concurrency among patients with a steady partner, and (2) identify correlates of condom use among patients reporting concurrent steady and non-steady partners.


METHODS
Patients recruited from an STI clinic (n = 973; 48% female; 68% African-American) completed a survey that assessed demographic characteristics, substance use, sexual partnerships and sexual behaviour, including condom use. Patients reporting a steady sexual partner for 3 months or longer were included in the analyses. Those who also reported a non-steady partner in the past 3 months, in addition to a steady partner, were considered to have engaged in concurrency.


RESULTS
Nearly two-thirds (64%) of patients reported both steady and non-steady partners in the past 3 months. Steady/non-steady concurrency was associated with being male, not cohabitating with a partner, use of alcohol and other drugs, and thinking their steady partner was monogamous. Patients with steady and non-steady partners reported that they seldom used condoms consistently with steady (5%) or non-steady (24%) partners. Compared to patients who did not report concurrency, patients who reported steady/non-steady concurrency reported more episodes of unprotected sex in the past 3 months. Among patients reporting concurrency, consistent condom use with non-steady partners was more likely among individuals who (a) used less alcohol and (b) thought that their steady partner was non-monogamous.


CONCLUSIONS
To reduce risk for HIV and other STIs, behavioural interventions need to address partner concurrency and its correlates, including alcohol and other drug use.
Senn
T E
TE
Center for Health and Behavior, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA. tsenn@syr.edu
Carey
M P
MP
Vanable
P A
PA
Coury-Doniger
P
P
Urban
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult