Prevalence of unprotected sex among men with AIDS in Los Angeles County, California, 1995-1997

Objective: To determine the prevalence of unprotected sex among men with AI DS in Los Angeles County. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: All men aged greater than or equal to 18 years who were newly repo rted to the local health department with AIDS and completed a standardized interview between January 1995 and lune 1997 were included in the study. Me n were classified as having unprotected sex if they reported one or more se x partners during the past year with whom they had vaginal or anal sex and did not always use a condom. Results: Of 617 men interviewed, 29% reported unprotected sex in the past y ear. The prevalence of unprotected sex was highest among men < 30 years of age (43%) and those who had first learned of their HIV-positive status < 12 months prior to interview (44%). In all, 323 (52%) men reported one or mor e male sex partners in the past year. Of these, 22% reported unprotected in sertive anal sex and 27% unprotected receptive anal sex. One or more female partners in the past year was reported by 131 (21%) men. Of these, 53% rep orted unprotected vaginal sex and 18% unprotected anal sex. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of early HIV detection e fforts, coupled with targeted and sustained HIV prevention services for tho se who test positive, to prevent ongoing transmission of the virus. (C) 199 9 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.