Prevalence of unsafe sex with one's steady partner either HIV-negative or of unknown HIV status and associated determinants in Cameroon (EVAL ANRS12-116 survey).
OBJECTIVE
Our study aimed at estimating the prevalence of inconsistent condom use and at identifying its determinants in steady partnerships among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Cameroon.


METHODS
Analyses were based on data collected during the national cross-sectional multicentre survey EVAL (ANRS 12-116), which was conducted in Cameroon between September 2006 and March 2007 among 3151 adult PLWHA diagnosed HIV-positive for at least 3 months. The study population consisted of the 907 survey participants who reported sexual activity during the previous 3 months, with a steady partner either HIV-negative or of unknown HIV status. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with individuals' report of inconsistent condom use during the previous 3 months.


RESULTS
Inconsistent condom use was reported by 35.3% of sexually active PLWHA. In a multivariate analysis adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics, not receiving antiretroviral therapy (OR (95% CI): 2.28 (1.64 to 3.18)) was independently associated with inconsistent condom use.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of unsafe sex remains high among sexually active PLWHA in Cameroon. Treatment with antiretroviral therapy is identified as a factor associated with safer sex, which further encourages the continuation of the national policy for increasing access to HIV treatment and care, and underlines the need to develop counselling strategies for all patients.
Dia
Aïssata
A
INSERM UMR912 (SE4S), Marseille 13006, France.
Marcellin
Fabienne
F
Bonono
Renée-Cécile
RC
Boyer
Sylvie
S
Bouhnik
Anne-Déborah
AD
Protopopescu
Camelia
C
Koulla-Shiro
Sinata
S
Carrieri
Maria Patrizia
MP
Abé
Claude
C
Spire
Bruno
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012747:Sexual Partners; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult