Risk behaviors related to heterosexual transmission from HIV-infected persons. Supplement to HIV/AIDS Surveillance Study Group

BACKGROUND: To monitor heterosexually acquired HIV infection, it is important to understand transmission from persons infected with HIV to their sex partners. GOAL: To describe sexual behaviors of persons infected with HIV that are related to transmission. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional interviews were conducted from January 1995 to December 1998. RESULTS: Of 4743 heterosexual respondents who had known about their HIV infection for 1 year or longer, 42% were not sexually active and 13% had one sex partner with HIV; the remaining 2099 comprised the sample for analysis. Most respondents were male, black, and of low socioeconomic status. Approximately 60% reported one or more sexual risk behavior. Steady partner's HIV status was the strongest predictor in most models for risk behaviors; those with a partner who was not infected were significantly less likely than those with an infected partner to report any sexual transmission risk behavior (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings point to a continued need to focus on behavioral prevention measures that reduce the heterosexual transmission of HIV.