Risk behaviors related to heterosexual transmission from HIV-infected persons

Background: To monitor heterosexually acquired HIV infection, it is importa nt to understand transmission from persons infected with HIV to their sex p artners. Goal: To describe sexual behaviors of persons infected with HIV that are re lated to transmission. Study Design: Cross-sectional interviews were conducted from January 1995 t o December 1998. Results: Of 4743 heterosexual respondents who had known about their HIV inf ection for 1 year or longer, 42% were not sexually active and 13% had one s ex partner with HIV; the remaining 2099 comprised the sample for analysis. Most respondents were male, black, and of low socioeconomic status. Approxi mately 60% reported one or more sexual risk behavior, Steady partner's HIV status was the strongest predictor in most models for risk behaviors; those with a partner who was not infected were significantly less likely than th ose with an infected partner to report any sexual transmission risk behavio r (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The findings point to a continued need to focus on behavioral prevention measures that reduce the heterosexual transmission of HIV.