title: Association between participant self-report and biological outcomes used to measure sexual risk behavior in human immunodeficiency virus-1-seropositive female sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have examined the association between self-reported sexual risk behaviors and biologic outcomes in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-seropositive African adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective cohort study in 898 HIV-1-seropositive women who reported engaging in transactional sex in Mombasa, Kenya. Primary outcome measures included detection of sperm in genital secretions, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections. Because 3 outcomes were evaluated, data are presented with odds ratios [OR] and 96.7% confidence intervals [CI] to reflect that we would reject a null hypothesis if a P-value was ≤0.033 (Simes' methodology).
  
  
  RESULTS
  During 2404 person-years of follow-up, self-reported unprotected intercourse was associated with significantly higher likelihood of detecting sperm in genital secretions (OR: 2.32, 96.7% CI: 1.93, 2.81), and pregnancy (OR: 2.78, 96.7% CI: 1.57, 4.92), but not with detection of sexually transmitted infections (OR: 1.20, 96.7% CI: 0.98, 1.48). At visits where women reported being sexually active, having >1 sex partner in the past week was associated with lower likelihood of detecting sperm in genital secretions (OR: 0.74, 96.7% CI: 0.56, 0.98). This association became nonsignificant after adjustment for reported condom use (adjusted OR: 0.81, 96.7% CI: 0.60, 1.08).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combining behavioral and biologic outcomes, which provide complementary information, is advantageous for understanding sexual risk behavior in populations at risk for transmitting HIV-1. The paradoxical relationship between higher numbers of sex partners and less frequent identification of sperm in genital secretions highlights the potential importance of context-specific behavior, such as condom use dependent on partner type, when evaluating sexual risk behavior.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. mcclell@uw.edu
authors.forename: R Scott
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: McClelland
authors.forename: Barbra A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: George H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Wanje
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mutunga
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Peshu
authors.forename: James N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Kiarie
authors.forename: Ann E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Kurth
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jaoko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D057566:Self Report; D011477:Sex Work; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*