DATA FROM THE NATIONAL AIDS BEHAVIORAL SURVEYS .1. SEXUAL RISK FOR HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION AMONG WOMEN IN HIGH-RISK CITIES

Data from 3,482 women aged 18-49 living in 23 urban areas of the Unite d States who participated in the 1990-1991 National AIDS Behavioral Su rveys show that in the preceding year, approximately 15% engaged in se xual behavior that might expose them to the human immunodeficiency vir us (HIV). Risk behaviors include having multiple sexual partners, havi ng a risky main sexual partner or having both multiple partners and a risky main partner. An additional 17% of women with no other risk fact or report that they do not know their main partner's HIV risk status. Predictors of risk factors vary by ethnicity, and having multiple part ners and having a risky main partner appear to have distinct sets of p redictors. Single women are more likely than others to have multiple p artners, and among white women, those with more than 12 years of educa tion are more likely to have multiple partners. Among blacks and Hispa nics, younger women are more likely than older women to have multiple partners. Among Hispanic women, married respondents and those with mor e than 12 years of education are more likely than others to have a ris ky main sexual partner, the latter pattern is reversed among white wom en, however, with those having less than 12 years of education being m ore likely to have a risky main sexual partner In general, women with a risky main partner are the least likely to use condoms consistently.