Condom use consistency associated with beliefs regarding HIV disease transmission among women receiving HIV antiretroviral therapy

Objective: To ascertain whether condom use consistency is associated with b eliefs regarding a decreased likelihood of HIV transmission as a function o f taking antiretroviral therapy. Design: Cross-sectional analysis of HIV-positive women from Brooklyn (NY) e nrolled in the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) who were taking any for m of antiretroviral therapy at the time of data collection. Methods: Between February and October, 1999, 145 HIV-positive eligible wome n participated in a structured, face-to-face interview. Interviews assessed attitudes and behaviors related to antiretroviral therapy and sexual risk behavior in the 6 months since a previous study visit. Results: Over three fourths of the study sample (77%) disagreed with a stat ement that being on antiretroviral therapy decreases the chances of transmi tting HIV to others. After controlling for number of sexual partners and HI V serostatus of partners, women reporting no association between HIV therap y and disease infectiousness were over three times more likely to report co nsistent condom use (odds ratio [OR], 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1. 2-8.3; p < .05). Conclusions: Antiretroviral therapy may be associated with increased risk b ehavior when it is believed that regimens may decrease the risk of disease transmission. Education regarding potential deleterious consequences of inc onsistent condom use should be part of ongoing HIV care.