Influencing HIV transmission risk

Research has shown that there are three primary factors that influence HIV risk behavior: biological, psychological, and social-environmental factors. Biological factors include molecular, genetic, and immunological variations that influence an individual's susceptibility to the virus. Biological factors are also influenced by the co-existence of other sexually transmitted diseases. Psychological factors include intrapersonal characteristics which promote risk-taking behaviors, such as an individual's response to stress or tendency towards substance abuse. Social-environmental factors include the context which surrounds interpersonal behaviors that may lead to HIV risk. Social-environmental factors may influence a person's decision regarding condom use or a person's compliance with safer sex practices.