289132
Sexual risks and HIV protections among women in Prague
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
: 9:20 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
M. Susan Stemmler, Ph.D., MPH, FNP, CNM,
Department of Family Medicine, Center for Behavioral and Addiction Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Timothy M. Hall, MD, PhD.,
Department of Family Medicine, Center for Behavioral and Addiction Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
P. Prokopik,
Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
Steve Shoptaw, PhD,
Department of Family Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Background: The Czech Republic escaped early HIV transmission in the 1980's because of state socialism, travel restrictions, and proactive HIV protocols. At this time, the prevalence of HIV mirrors Western Europe of the past decade. However, there is little data on HIV-related risk behaviors, especially among young women. Methods: We explored a community-based subsample of female (n=124) respondents from a survey of individuals (n=377), aged 18 years and older who frequented social venues in Central Prague. Sexual identity, intimate partner encounters, and HIV risk prevention behaviors were queried. We conducted descriptive statistics, bivariate, and multivariate analysis. Results: The female sample ranged from 18 to 67 (mean 29 years); 25% self-identified as non-heterosexual (homosexual, bisexual, or transgender). Twenty percent reported consistent condom or barrier use. With casual male sex partners, 36% of respondents reported condom use and 20% used barriers use with same sex encounters. Half of the women reported having a primary relationship and reported talking about HIV status with their intimate partners. Also, knowledge and willingness to use of Pre-/post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV was reported by half the women. HIV testing by 32% of the sample was associated with younger age, education, and having sex with casual sex partners. Conclusion: The need to augment HIV risk awareness and the availability of pre-/post-exposure treatment options are important to continue low HIV incidence among the women of Prague.
Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Diversity and culture
Public health or related education
Learning Objectives:
Identify one detrimental sexual risk behavior related to increased HIV for women of Prague.
Differentiate sexual risk factors based on sexual identity among the women of Prague.
Keyword(s): Sexual Risk Behavior, HIV Risk Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I completed all statistical analysis and interpretation of data for this presentation about sexual and HIV risk behaviors among the subset of women who participated in the Prague survey conducted in 2011.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
