RISK BEHAVIOR AND CORRELATES OF RISK FOR HIV-INFECTION IN THE DALLAS COUNTY HOUSEHOLD HIV SURVEY

Objectives. The Dallas County study of a proposed national household s eroprevalence survey was designed to assess the feasibility of conduct ing a national survey and to estimate the prevalence of human immunode ficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus infection for Dallas County , Risk behavior data were collected and correlated with HIV infection. Methods. Participants in this survey represented a probability sample of the county. A self-administered questionnaire on demographic chara cteristics and HIV risk behavior was completed and a blood sample was obtained. Results. Of the 1724 adults eligible for the survey, 1446 co mpleted the questionnaire and 1374 provided a blood sample. The preval ence estimates were 0.4% for HIV and 7.3% for hepatitis B virus. A str ong relationship was observed between HIV and hepatitis B status and r isk behavior. Conclusions. In this study population, receptive anal in tercourse and increasing numbers of male partners had the strongest co rrelation with the prevalence of HIV and hepatitis B virus infection i n men. The high level of risk reporting for individuals positive for H IV or hepatitis B suggests that survey participants who engage in risk behaviors were willing to report those behaviors.