Sites, settings and life circumstances may predispose older adults to HIV risk exposure. HIV-related studies of older adults, have addressed disease management or exposure through drug use, ignoring the general population of older adults about whom little is known with respect to exposure to HIV infection or risk behaviors other than that HIV prevalence is increasing. Many independently functioning lower income older adults live in public or private housing in neighborhoods where opportunities for exposure to HIV infection including unprotected sexual activity and exchanging sex for drugs and money are prevalent, both within buildings and through resident interaction with drug users and commercial sex workers in surrounding neighborhoods. Infection occurs when opportunities for HIV risk behavior including unprotected penetrative sex exist in the environment, when residents engage in such behaviors and when HIV is present in their networks. Structural (infrastructure, environmental, socio-cultural and network) dimensions of HIV risk vary from one building and neighborhood to another, requiring analysis of local settings, interactions and building/community exchanges in order to introduce effective HIV prevention interventions. This paper based on an NIA-funded four year, two city study, examines social context, HIV and STDs knowledge and attitudes and sexual risk networks in three buildings housing older adults, and integrates building, neighborhood and network factors in a comprehensive strategy for sexual risk prevention that accommodates building, neighborhood and network differences. See www.incommunityresearch.org
Learning Objectives: 1. Recognize the potential for exposure to HIV in a sample of older adults residing in the community. 2. Identify specific sexual risk behaviors of older adults 3. Identify strategies for STI and HIV prevention in buildings housing older adults.
Keywords: Network Analysis, Sexual Risk Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.