AEGiS-14IAC: Alive and sexual in small-town America: Intimate partners and sexual risks in people living with HIV/AIDS in the non-urban Southeastern US.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Alive and sexual in small-town America: Intimate partners and sexual risks in people living with HIV/AIDS in the non-urban Southeastern US.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. D11138)

Strauss RP, Shain LS, Emrick CB
University of North Carolina Center for AIDS Research and Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Chapel Hill, United States

BACKGROUND: In non-urban/rural areas of the U.S. Southeast, there are increasing numbers of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHIV) and the epidemic is demographically different from that in U.S. urban areas. Previous U.S. studies showing PLWHIV engage in unprotected sex were in mostly urban, educated, gay/bisexual, white men. This study seeks to examine how PLWHIV from non-urban U.S. areas deal with sexual relationships and HIV transmission risks.

METHODS: Private interviews were conducted with 107 HIV+ adults in a North Carolina ID clinic (67% male; 74% African-Amer., 33% self-reported AIDS diagnosis). Sample includes heterosexual (44%), gay/lesbian (35%), and bisexual (20%) PLWHIVs. Sexual and intimate behaviors in the past year were examined.

RESULTS: 76% had sexual relations in the past year. 42% worried about passing HIV through sex and 57% chose not to have sex at least sometimes to avoid spreading HIV. Among those with a main sex partner (67%), 43% had partners who were not HIV-infected, and 44% report unprotected sex with their main partner in the past year. 44% of those who had unprotected sex with a main partner, had one who was HIV negative or of undetermined serostatus. For those with other sex partners (44%), 31% had partners who were not HIV-infected, and 53% had unprotected sex with their other partners. 26% of those who had unprotected sex with other partners had at least one other partner who was HIV negative or of undetermined serostatus.

CONCLUSIONS: This study of a largely small town, African-American, U.S. sample demonstrates that many PLWHIV have sexual relationships and are engaging in unprotected sex which may pose a public health threat. These findings suggest that culturally appropriate health educational and behavioral interventions should be undertaken for PLWHIV in non-urban communities in the US Southeast. Support by NIH CFAR grant 9P30 AI50410-04.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Homosexuality, Male, Sex Behavior, HIV Seropositivity, Bisexuality, Safe Sex, Sexual Partners, Heterosexuality, Homosexuality, Female, African Americans, Interviews, Coitus, Americas, United States, North Carolina, Human, Male, Female, Adult

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D11138