AEGiS-14IAC: Changes in HIV-related risk and preventive behavior in the U.S. population: Data from national surveys 1982-2001.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Changes in HIV-related risk and preventive behavior in the U.S. population: Data from national surveys 1982-2001.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. TuOrC1231)

Anderson JE, Santelli JS, Mugalla C
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States

BACKGROUND: We summarize trends in HIV-related behaviors based on several nationally-representative health surveys that have collected this information since the early 1980s.

METHODS: Data are from the National Health Interview Survey, the National Survey of Family Growth, the General Social Survey, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, and the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. Behaviors include initiation of sexual activity, numbers of partners, male-to-male sex, condom use, dual use of condoms with other contraceptive methods, and HIV testing.

RESULTS: No major changes are evident in reported sexual behavior (numbers of partners, initiation) since the 1980's. Condom use increased through the mid to late 1990s, particularly with non-regular sex partners. Among persons at increased risk for HIV through sexual or drug use behavior, only about 20% reported using condoms with their main partners. Use of condoms in combination with other effective methods was reported by about 3% of reproductive age women, and was more frequent among those with some HIV risk factors. HIV testing increased throughout this period, particularly among the at-risk. By the late 1990's the majority of pregnant women were tested for HIV, a trend closely associated with a decrease in cases of perinatally acquired HIV. However, among reproductive-age women with some increased degree of behavioral risk, 29% had never been tested.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite major changes, prevention programs serving high-risk populations need to work toward increasing safe sex practices with main partners, and HIV testing among the never-tested, particularly reproductive-age women.

Keywords: AEGIS, Sex Behavior, Condoms, Risk-Taking, HIV Infections, Data Collection, Sexual Partners, United States, Safe Sex, HIV Seropositivity, Health Surveys, Human, Female, Male, Pregnancy, prevention & control

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