Social and behavioral correlates of sexually transmitted infection- and HIV-discordant sexual partnerships in Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York.
BACKGROUND
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise repeat HIV testing for partners of HIV-infected persons; injection drug users and their sex partners; individuals with recent multiple partnerships and their sex partners; those involved in sex trade; and men who have sex with men. Additional social and behavioral variables may be useful for identifying priority populations.


METHODS
We analyzed data collected during a social network study conducted in a Brooklyn, NY, neighborhood to identify social and behavioral characteristics of respondents (N = 343) involved in HIV-discordant, herpes simplex virus-2- discordant, and chlamydia-discordant partnerships.


RESULTS
HIV partnership discordance was associated with injection drug use but was generally not associated with sexual behaviors including multiple partnerships and sex trade. herpes simplex virus-2 and chlamydia partnership discordance were associated with multiple partnerships, sex trade, and same sex partnership history. Additional correlates of sexually transmitted infection (STI)/HIV-discordant partnerships included older age (>or=25 years), noninjection drug use, and incarceration history. Analyses suggested that screening tools composed of CDC-recommended sexual risk and injection drug indicators plus indicators of older age, noninjection drug use, and incarceration were more effective in identifying STI/HIV priority populations than tools composed of CDC indicators alone.


CONCLUSIONS
Screening tools that include social and behavioral indicators may improve STI/HIV case-finding effectiveness.
Khan
Maria R
MR
National Development and Research Institutes, New York, NY 10010, USA. maria_khan@unc.edu
Bolyard
Melissa
M
Sandoval
Milagros
M
Mateu-Gelabert
Pedro
P
Krauss
Beatrice
B
Aral
Sevgi O
SO
Friedman
Samuel R
SR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D017280:Condoms; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*