People living with HIV infection are now recognized as an important target population for HIV prevention efforts. Unfortunately, the sexual behavior of HIV-positive persons has only recently become a frequent subject for scientific study. One important aspect that remains largely unstudied is the pattern of sexual relationships among people living with HIV. In this project, investigators will develop a typology of the sexual relationships of HIV-positive adults and examine how relationship patterns are related to sexual risk and risk-reduction behaviors. Data will come from the Risk & Prevention Study, collected in late 1998 from a national probability sample of 1,421 adults drawn from the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study (HCSUS).
The specific aims are to: (1) Develop and apply a classification scheme for describing the sexual relationships of HIV-positive adults in terms of number of partners and type and concurrency of relationships; (2) examine how sexual relationship patterns vary by age, gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, and fertility/parenthood status; (3) examine how relationship duration and exclusivity are related to other relationship characteristics, such as emotional closeness, drug use, and violence; (4) test for differences between relationship types in sexual risk and risk reduction behaviors, including condom use and avoidance of anal or vaginal intercourse, and in related behaviors, such as disclosure of HIV status to sexual partners; (5) estimate the prevalence among HIV-positive adults of HIV risk-reduction strategies that involve partner selection, and examine the correlates of these strategies; and (6) examine the bivariate and multivariate associations between relationship patterns (number of partners and concurrency of relationships) and self-reports of having been recently diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease.
| Galvan, Frank H; Collins, Rebecca L; Kanouse, David E et al. (2007) Religiosity, denominational affiliation and sexual behaviors among people with HIV in the United States. J Sex Res 44:49-58 |
| Bogart, Laura M; Collins, Rebecca L; Kanouse, David E et al. (2006) Patterns and correlates of deliberate abstinence among men and women with HIV/AIDS. Am J Public Health 96:1078-84 |
| Galvan, Frank H; Collins, Rebecca; Kanouse, David E et al. (2004) Abuse in the close relationships of people with HIV. AIDS Behav 8:441-51 |
