HIV-1 seroprevalence, risk factors, and preventive behaviors among women in northern Thailand

To study HIV-1 seroprevalence, risk factors, and preventive behaviors among reproductive-age women in northern Thailand, 804 consenting women who were identified postpartum or who were visiting family planning clinics were in terviewed and tested during 1998 to 1999. Almost all women were currently m arried and had been pregnant more than once. Their median age was 27 years. HIV-1 seroprevalence was 3.1% overall and was higher in women aged between 25 and 29 years (5.9%), having had greater than or equal to2 lifetime sex partners (6.5%), or whose current marriage had lasted for less than or equa l to1 year (7.0%). No woman reported HIV risk factors other than heterosexu al sex. Most (76%) HIV-infected women reported no casual sex partners and, therefore. had likely acquired the infection from their husbands. HIV testi ng and partner communications were common, but only 2% of couples used cond oms consistently in the prior 6 months. Nearly half of these women perceive d themselves at no or low risk for HIV infection; these women were less lik ely to have taken preventive actions. To prevent HIV transmission in stable partnerships in this population, additional efforts are needed to increase HIV testing and condom use, to improve women's negotiation skills, and to develop new methods that do not require partner cooperation such as vaginal microbicides or vaccines.