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HIV transmission risk practices in rural persons living with HIV disease
Timothy G Heckman1, Monica Silverthorn, Andrea Waltje
1Department of Psychology, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701, USA. heckmant@ohiou.edu
Background:
Little is known about continued high-risk sexual behavior of persons living with HIV disease in rural areas of the United States. However, as HIV seroprevalence rates increase in rural communities, there is an urgent need to develop interventions to assist HIV-infected rural individuals who have difficulty refraining from high-risk sex.
Goal:
To characterize patterns of continued high-risk sex among 216 men and women living with HIV disease in rural areas of 12 states.
Study Design:
Cross-sectional, self-administered survey.
Results:
Thirty-two percent of men and 38% of women reported that all of their sex partners in the previous 3 months were HIV-seronegative. Among the 33% of men who engaged in anal sex, 59% never or rarely used condoms. Of the 55% of women who engaged in vaginal sex in the previous 3 months, 31% never used condoms.
Conclusion:
Culturally contextualized interventions are needed to initiate and facilitate the risk-reduction efforts of HIV-infected rural persons.