Continued high risk sexual behavior following diagnosis with acute HIV infection in South Africa and Malawi: implications for prevention.
Understanding sexual behavior following diagnosis of acute HIV infection (AHI) is key to developing prevention programs targeting individuals diagnosed with AHI. We conducted separate qualitative and quantitative interviews with individuals newly diagnosed (n = 19) with AHI at 1-, 4- and 12-weeks post-diagnosis and one qualitative interview with individuals who had previously been diagnosed with AHI (n = 18) in Lilongwe, Malawi and Johannesburg, South Africa between October 2007 and June 2008. The majority of participants reported engaging in sexual activity following diagnosis with AHI with a significant minority reporting unprotected sex during this time. Most participants perceived to have changed their behavior following diagnosis. However, participants reported barriers to condom use and abstinence, in particular, long term relationships and the need for disclosure of sero-status. Understanding of increased infectiousness during AHI was limited. Participants reported a desire for a behavioral intervention at the time of AHI diagnosis, however, there were differences by country in the types of interventions participants found acceptable. Studies are underway to determine the feasibility, acceptability and potential effectiveness of interventions designed for individuals with AHI.
Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB #7435, McGavran-Greenberg Bldg, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435, USA. apettif@email.unc.edu
Audrey
A
Pettifor
Catherine
C
MacPhail
Amy
A
Corneli
Jabu
J
Sibeko
Gift
G
Kamanga
Nora
N
Rosenberg
William C
WC
Miller
Irving
I
Hoffman
Helen
H
Rees
Myron S
MS
Cohen
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008295:Malawi; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult