The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #71837

Stephanie Tortu, PhD¹, James M. McMahon, PhD², Enrique R. Pouget², and Rahul Hamid, MA². (1) School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2301, New Orleans, LA 70112, 504-988-4535, stortu@tulane.edu, (2) National Development and Research Institutes, 71 West 23rd Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010

Background: Monogamy is often advised as a strategy for HIV prevention, provided both partners remain uninfected. To insure safety in a monogamous relationship, women must know their partner’s risk profile. This study compared drug using women’s perceptions of their partner’s HIV risk profile with their partner’s self-reported risk behaviors and HIV test results. Methods: In East Harlem, NY, 269 crack, cocaine or heroin using women and their primary male partners were recruited for this cross-sectional study and interviewed separately. All were offered counseling and testing for HIV. Results: Of those women consenting to HIV testing, 55/246 (22.4%) were seropositive. Among uninfected women, 172/191 (90%) correctly identified their male partner’s HIV serostatus (17 HIV+; 155 HIV-). Among 174 seronegative women who reported their partner as uninfected or who did not know their partner’s serostatus, 12 (7%) had HIV+ partners. Among 29 male-positive/female-negative couples, 72% (21/29) reported unprotected sex in the past 30 days (mean vaginal/anal sex acts = 17.4, S.D.=18.3). Of 162 seroconcordant HIV-negative couples, 64 male partners (40%) reported HIV risk behaviors outside the relationship. Conclusions: Although most women knew their partner’s HIV serostatus, a substantial proportion of uninfected women were unaware of their partner’s HIV infection. Because the majority of HIV-negative women with infected partners engaged in unsafe sex with them, monogamy will not help these women avoid disease. Issues associated with disclosure of HIV serostatus within heterosexual relationships need further investigation. Drug using women and their partners also need to address behavioral risks outside the relationship.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
• Contrast drug-using women’s perceptions of their primary male partner’s HIV risk profile with their partner’s actual risk behaviors and HIV test results.
• Evaluate the level of sexual risk behavior engaged in by drug-using women and their primary male partners.
• Recognize the importance of HIV disclosure and communication regarding risk behaviors between intimate partners, in the context of HIV prevention.
• Discuss the concept of monogamy as an HIV prevention strategy in the context of drug-using women's perceived versus actual HIV risk with primary partners.

Keywords: Women and HIV/AIDS, Sexual Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.