Assessing behavioral risk for HIV infection in family-planning and STD clinics: similarities and differences

Four hundred fifty-five women in family-planning and sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics were surveyed to determine the degree of participation in behaviors known to be associated with increased risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. A previous history of STD (20%) and multiple sexual partners (73%) were shown to be the high-risk behaviors most prevalent in these populations. Sexual intercourse with persons in high-risk groups (6%) and intravenous (IV) drug use (3.7%) were less prevalent. Differences between the populations from each type of clinic and between races were noted. Overall, almost one third of family-planning clinic clients and nearly half of STD clinic clients reported participation in at least one risk behavior, emphasizing the need for educational efforts toward disease prevention in these settings.