Age-related risk for HIV infection in men who have sex with men: Examination of behavioral, relationship, and serostatus variables

The study examined behavioral, relationship, and serostatus variables that potentially contribute to HIV infection risk in three age groups of men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM recruited in West Hollywood, California self- administered a questionnaire measuring unprotected insertive anal intercour se (UIAI) and unprotected receptive anal intercourse (URAI) with primary an d nonprimary partners. The following relationship/serostatus variables were also assessed: recency of HIV testing, knowledge of own HIV serostatus, pe rception of partner's serostatus, seroconcordance (self and partner seroneg ative), and self-reported monogamy status. The prevalence of UIAI and URAI was higher with primary than nonprimary partners. These sexual risk behavio rs with primary partners were substantially more prevalent among men younge r than 25 years of age than among men aged 25 to 30 or over age 30. UIAI an d URAI with nonprimary partners were uncommon in each age group, and there were no significant age differences on the serostatus and relationship vari ables. The findings suggest that young MSM may be at elevated risk for cont racting HIV by virtue of their sexual risk behavior with primary partners. Targeted interventions for MSM need to address sexual risk in the context o f primary relationships.