title: The Role of Sexual Health Professionals in Developing a Shared Concept of Risky Sexual Behavior as it Relates to HIV Transmission.
abstract: "Risky sexual behavior" accounts for the majority of new HIV infections regardless of gender, age, geographic location, or ethnicity. The phrase, however, refers to a relatively nebulous concept that hampers development of effective sexual health communication strategies. The purpose of this paper was to propose development of a shared conceptual understanding of "risky sexual behavior." We reviewed multidisciplinary HIV/AIDS literature to identify definitions of risky sexual behavior. Both the linguistic components and the social mechanisms that contribute to the concept of risky sexual behaviors were noted. Risky sexual behavior was often defined in a subjective manner in the literature, even in the scientific research. We urge a paradigm shift to focus on explicit behaviors and the social context of those behaviors in determining HIV risk. We also propose a new definition that reduces individual biases and promotes a broader discussion of the degree of sexual risk across a diversity of behavioral contexts. Sexual health professionals can strengthen practice and research initiatives by operating from a concise working definition of risky sexual behavior that is broadly transferable and expands beyond a traditional focus on identity-based groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Center for Health Equity Research and Center for Global Women's Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Bridgette M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Brawner
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Department of Community Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Kamila A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Equity Research and Center for Global Women's Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Ehriel F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Fannin
authors.affiliation: Department of Urban Public Health & Nutrition, School of Nursing & Health Sciences, La Salle University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Jillian L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Department of Urban Public Health & Nutrition, School of Nursing & Health Sciences, La Salle University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Zupenda M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D024382:Professional Role; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D060728:Reproductive Health; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: HIV/AIDS; disease prevention; diversity; health promotion; patient education; prevention; programme planning; public health systems; sexual behavior