AEGiS-07IAC: Effect of counseling on HIV risk behaviors in patients at a New York City sexually transmitted disease clinic.

7th International AIDS Conference


Florence, Italy — June 16-21, 1991

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Effect of counseling on HIV risk behaviors in patients at a New York City sexually transmitted disease clinic.

Int Conf AIDS 1991 Jun 16-21; 7:458 (abstract no. W.D.4281)
Bevier P, Ewing W, Hildebrandt D, Castro K, Chiasson MA; New York City Dept. of Health, NY, NY

OBJECTIVES: To determine if HIV risk behaviors are reduced after counseling, and to evaluate determinants of behavior change in STD patients.

METHODS: Questionnaires were administered at enrollment and 6 months after HIV risk behavior counseling. Behaviors during the 6 months prior to counseling are compared to post-counseling behaviors.

RESULTS: The major changes for all 1016 subjects were reductions in the proportion who were sexually active (96% v. 86%), a reduction in total sex partners (mean 4.5 v. 3.3), and an increase in number of sexual contacts with these partners (mean 35 v. 42). Males significantly decreased number of total partners (mean 3.7 v. 2.7, p=.01) and prostitute partners (mean 1.8 v. .5, p=.02). Females also reduced total partners from 5.9 to 4.3, p=.01; but there was little change in number of intravenous drug using (IVDU) partners. Frequency of IVDU contacts increased for both sexes. Condom use increased slightly, but females used condoms only 10% of the time with IVDUs. Males were more likely to change; but age, race and STD status were not related to change in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS: Some risk behaviors were reduced following a single counseling session. However, counseling should be intensified and targeted to the higher risk behaviors, especially sex with IVDUs and lack of condom use. Different counseling strategies may be needed to address relative lack of change in women.

Keywords: AEGIS, Risk-Taking, HIV, Counseling, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Condoms, Sexual Partners, Prostitution, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, HIV-1, Sexuality, Single Person, Coitus, Attitude to Health, New York City, Human, Female, Male, ICA7KWDaegis,risk-taking,hiv,counseling,sexuallytransmitteddiseases,condoms,sexualpartners,prostitution,substanceabuse,intravenous,hiv-1,sexuality,singleperson,coitus,attitudetohealth,newyorkcity,human,female,male,ica7
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WD4281

Copyright © 1991 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.