Sexually Transmitted Disease/HIV Transmission Risk Behaviors and Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevalence Among HIV-Positive Men Receiving Continuing Care

Abstract

HIV primary care clinics offer an environment in which to deliver prevention messages and to conduct sexually transmitted disease (STD) screening. Determination of the prevalence and factors associated with risk-taking behaviors among HIV clinic attendees is needed. The goal of this study was to describe risk behaviors and STD prevalence in males receiving HIV primary care. Participants underwent an interviewer-administered survey and STD testing during this cross-sectional study. Over two thirds of study participants reported sexual activity within the prior 6 months of which 6% were infected with gonorrhea or chlamydia. Men performing insertive rectal sex were 5 times less likely to use condoms when the partner was HIV-positive (odds ratio [OR], 5.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.90–13.91), whereas patients with higher CD4 counts were more likely to engage in unprotected receptive rectal sex (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.02–1.42). HIV primary care clinics provide access to patients in need of HIV prevention intervention and are appropriate sites for these activities.