Risky sex uncommon among HIV patients

The results of large study of US residents infected with HIV show that the majority of them refrain from sexual activities likely to spread the virus to others who are not infected.

Dr. Lance S. Weinhardt from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee said this study provides "very good news for those working with people with HIV, the patients themselves, and for public health in the US in general."

Weinhardt and colleagues surveyed a total of 3723 HIV-infected people living in Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New York City or San Francisco between 2000 and 2002 regarding sexual and drug use behaviors that increase the risk of spreading the virus. The sample included 1918 men who have sex with men (MSM), 827 heterosexual men, and 978 women.

The findings appear in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.

"Nearly 85 percent reported that they do not engage in behavior that places others at risk for infection," Weinhardt reported to Reuters Health.

"Most risky behavior that was reported occurred with other HIV-positive individuals, and when risky behavior occurred with HIV-negative partners or persons of unknown HIV status, the majority of subjects had told all of these partners about their HIV infection," he said.

Nonetheless, between 13 and 19 percent of those surveyed engaged in unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse with partners who were HIV-negative or whose HIV status was unknown. And 18 percent of injection drug users reported lending their used needles to others.

"The small percentage of HIV individuals engaging in (risky) behavior indicates a need for physicians and other health care providers to routinely discuss and counsel HIV patients regarding relationships and risk behaviors during medical treatment," Weinhardt said.

"As HIV-positive individuals live longer and healthier lives, they face challenges in achieving a satisfactory quality of life and many can benefit from supportive counseling and auxiliary services," he added.

SOURCE: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, September 2004.