title: Anticipated changes in sexual risk behaviour following vaccination with a low-efficacy HIV vaccine: survey results from a South African township.
abstract: We assessed the potential for anticipated changes in sexual risk-taking behaviour following hypothetical administration of a low-efficacy preventive HIV vaccine. We developed a survey and collected self-reported data from 158 HIV-negative volunteers in a cohort undergoing prescreening for Phase I/II HIV vaccine trials in Soweto. Overall, 22% reported they might use condoms less frequently; 9% reported that they might increase their frequency of sex with casual/anonymous partners; and 55% reported their sexual partners might want to use condoms less frequently knowing they were vaccinated. Multivariate analyses revealed that anticipated decrease in condom use was predicted by poor comprehension and by young age. Individuals may increase their risk-taking behaviour knowing that a vaccine would provide only incomplete protection against HIV transmission. In HIV vaccine trials and future vaccination programmes, education and risk-reduction counselling will be needed for vaccinated individuals and their partners, and mass media education campaigns may be necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, Division of Health Policy & Administration, Yale University School of Medicine, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA. kyeen@aya.yale.edu
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vardas
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Niccolai
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Van Niekerk
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mogale
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Holdsworth
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bogoshi
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Gray
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017280:Condoms; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014611:Vaccination / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines