Sexual Behavior of Perinatally Infected Youth in Northwest Ethiopia: Implication for HIV Prevention Strategy

The major mode of HIV transmission in many resource-limited settings is via heterosexual intercourse, but the primary risk factor for youth is primarily through perinatal infection. With the maturing of the HIV epidemic, youth who acquired the virus perinatally are now reaching adolescence and becoming young adults. There is a paucity of data on the sexual practices of perinatally infected youth in Ethiopia.

This a cross-sectional study among 343 HIV positive youths receiving HIV care and treatment in the two hospitals in northwest Ethiopia. A self-administered questionnaire was administered among those who were able to read and write, and the questionnaire was administered by a trained study team member for those who were illiterate. Data were entered using Epi data version 3.5 and analyzed using SPSS. Sexual behaviors of the two groups were compared using bivariate logistic regression and the significant ones were further analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Statistical significance was declared at 95% confidence interval and P-value less than 0.05.

About (63.3%) were females, and 177 (51.6%) were between 20 and 24 years of age. The modes of HIV acquisition were 133 (35%) through perinatal HIV infection, 120 (35%) through sexual contact, 27 (7.9%) through exposure to HIV infected sharp materials, and 63 (18.4%) unsure how they acquired HIV. More than half 155 (59.3%) had multiple sexual partners, and 50 (63.3%) of their sexual partners were HIV negative. Among those who were sexually active, only 77 (56.2%) use a condom consistently.

More children who acquired HIV from their mothers are joining the youth population. Their sexual behavior is similar to those youth with behaviorally acquired HIV. There is significant risky sexual behavior among both groups. There is great urgency to effectively address the HIV the prevention strategy to break the cycle of "transgenerational" infection.