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Factors associated with sexual risk behavior among persons living with HIV: gender and sexual identity group

Cari Courtenay-Quirk1, Sherri L Pals, Grant Colfax

  • 1Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Mailstop E-45, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. ccourtenayquirk@cdc.gov

AIDS and Behavior
|June 27, 2007
PubMed

Insights

HIV transmission risk factors vary by subgroup. Gay and bisexual men with multiple partners or lower self-efficacy showed higher risk. More research is needed for heterosexual men and women.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences

Background:

  • HIV transmission risk factors can differ among diverse populations of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).
  • Understanding these differences is crucial for targeted prevention strategies.
  • Previous research highlights the need to examine specific subgroups.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate factors associated with HIV transmission risk behaviors in distinct subgroups of PLWHA.
  • To identify specific risk factors for serodiscordant unprotected anal or vaginal sex (SDUAV) among gay or bisexual men (GBM), heterosexual men (HSM), and women.
  • To inform tailored HIV prevention efforts.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 982 sexually active PLWHA recruited from three US metropolitan areas.
  • Participants were categorized into three groups: GBM (n=545), HSM (n=223), and women (n=214).
  • Data collected on demographics, sexual behaviors, substance use (poppers), and safer sex self-efficacy.

Main Results:

  • Overall, 27.1% of participants reported SDUAV.
  • Among GBM, SDUAV was significantly associated with having multiple partners (≥2), using poppers, and lower safer sex self-efficacy.
  • Among HSM, SDUAV was associated with having multiple partners. No significant factors were associated with SDUAV among women.

Conclusions:

  • Findings underscore that HIV transmission risk factors are subgroup-specific, particularly for GBM.
  • Targeted interventions focusing on multiple partners, substance use, and self-efficacy are critical for GBM.
  • Further research is essential to identify and address risk behaviors among HSM and women living with HIV.

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