AIDS RISK BEHAVIORS AMONG LATE MIDDLE-AGED AND ELDERLY AMERICANS - THE NATIONAL-AIDS-BEHAVIORAL-SURVEYS

Objectives: Although 10% of all acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AI DS) cases diagnosed in the United States have been among Americans age d 50 years of age or older, little attention has been devoted to under standing AIDS risk-taking behaviors among middle-aged or older America ns, This study describes the prevalence of AIDS risk among Americans a ged 50 years of age or older. Design and Study Population: We present data from the National AIDS Behavioral Surveys, two large cross-sectio nal national surveys taken in 1990-1991. Main Outcome Variable: Preval ence of risk behaviors for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmis sion and of HIV testing. Results: Findings from both surveys provide r eplication of several important points. First, the prevalence of havin g at least one risk factor for HIV infection was about 10% among Ameri cans aged 50 years or older in both-samples. Very small proportions of Americans past the age of 50 years with a known behavioral risk for H IV infection used condoms during sex or had undergone HIV testing. At- risk Americans past the age of 50 years were one sixth as likely to us e condoms during sex and one fifth as likely to have been tested for H IV as a comparison group of at-risk individuals in their 20s. Conclusi ons: Despite the fact that HIV infection is clearly present among thos e past the age of 50 years, a small proportion of individuals in this age group take behavioral risks for HIV infection. High-risk individua ls older than 50 years are much less likely to have adopted AIDS preve ntion strategies than are younger individuals who engage in the same b ehavioral risks.