title: Predictors of unsafe sexual behavior among people living with human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS attending antiretroviral therapy center in Western India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As more and more people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) live longer and healthier lives because of antiretroviral therapy (ART), an increasing number of sexual transmissions of HIV may arise from these people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Hence, this study is conducted to assess the predictors of unsafe sexual behavior among PLWHA on ART in Western India.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current cross-sectional study was carried out among 175 PLWHAs attending ART center of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Western India. Unsafe sex was defined as inconsistent and/or incorrect condom use. A total of 39 variables from four domains viz., sociodemographic, relationship-related, medical and psycho-social factors were studied for their relationship to unsafe sexual behavior. The variables found to be significantly associated with unsafe sex practices in bivariate analysis were explored by multivariate analysis using multiple logistic regression in SPSS 17.0 version.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-eight percentage of PLWHAs were practicing unsafe sex. 15 out of total 39 variables showed significant association in bivariate analysis. Finally, 11 of them showed significant association in multivariate analysis. Young age group, illiteracy, lack of counseling, misbeliefs about condom use, nondisclosure to spouse and lack of partner communication were the major factors found to be independently associated with unsafe sex in multivariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Appropriate interventions like need-based counseling are required to address risk factors associated with unsafe sex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, GMERS Medical College, Gotri, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Kedar G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Baroda Medical College, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Rajendra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baxi
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, GMERS Medical College, Gotri, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Parag
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chavda
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Baroda Medical College, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Sangita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Baroda Medical College, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Vihang
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mazumdar
keywords: India; people living with human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS; predictors; sexual behavior