Irregular Partners Research Articles

Prevention of HIV/AIDS Transmission in Key Communities in Surabaya

Indonesia is in third place among Asia Pacific countries for the growth and spread of HIV with a total of 46,000 cases. East Java Province is designated as an area with concentrated HIV prevalence along with five other provinces, namely DKI Jakarta, Papua, Bali, Riau and West Java. Knowledge is one of the predisposing factors in early detection of HIV disease, as well as risky behavior that can cause HIV AIDS transmission. This research aims to provide education to key communities as an effort to increase knowledge about HIV AIDS prevention and transmission. This research takes the form of experimental research, namely by measuring the increase in respondents' knowledge through pretest and posttest after the intervention. The intervention takes the form of providing education related to knowledge of preventing HIV/AIDS transmission. The intervention that will be carried out to increase knowledge about safe sexual behavior and preventing HIV AIDS transmission will be carried out by providing education on preventing HIV AIDS transmission in key communities at the Mahameru Foundation for 40 respondents. Risky sexual behavior such as having sexual relations with irregular partners, not using condoms during sexual intercourse, having sexual relations under the influence of alcohol and drugs are still carried out by key communities. The level of knowledge regarding risky sexual behavior, how HIV AIDS is transmitted and how to prevent HIV AIDS before education is carried out is still low.

HIV-positive clients of female sex workers in Hunan Province, China: a mixed methods study assessing sexual relationships and risk behavior by type of partner

BackgroundIn China, clients of female sex workers (CFSWs) have a low rate of condom use and a high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, little is known about the high-risk sexual behaviors of HIV-positive CFSWs.MethodsIn 2014, 327 CFSWs diagnosed with HIV for 6 months or longer completed a face-to-face questionnaire for a quantitative survey. In addition, 32 HIV-positive CFSWs were recruited to participate in in-depth interviews (18 participated in both, 14 participated in-depth interviews only) to explore reasons for extramarital sexual behaviors and inconsistent condom use. The quantitative data on sexual risk behaviors were analyzed using chi-square tests. Interviews were coded inductively for emerging themes.ResultsAmong the participants of the quantitative survey, 41.6% (136/327) had sex with regular sexual partners only in the past 6 months, of whom 64.0% (87/136) had consistent condom use; 27.5% (90/327) of the participants had sex with irregular sexual partners in the past 6 months, of which, 46.7% (42/90) had consistent condom use. The qualitative study suggested that HIV positive sero-status, willingness to protect their spouses or regular sexual partners, and lacking a sense of responsibility to protect their commercial and casual sexual partners, influence CFSWs’ sexual behaviors.ConclusionsHIV-positive CFSWs continue to practice unsafe sexual behaviors with regular and irregular partners after HIV diagnosis, but were more willing to protect their regular partners. Future interventions targeting HIV-positive CFSWs should not only be confined to sero-discordant couples, but also need to instill a sense of responsibility to protect the commercial and casual partners and reduce the number of concurrent partners.

Three-Body Wave Functions in the Continuum: Application to the Repulsive Coulomb Case

In this work we describe a method that permits to obtain full three-body continuum wave functions regardless the short- or long-range character of the two-body potentials involved. Within this method all the possible incoming channels are automatically taken into account. When applied to systems where only the repulsive Coulomb interaction enters the method provides the corresponding regular three-body Coulomb functions, from which their irregular partners can be obtained.

Factors associated with high-risk behaviors among people newly diagnosed to be infected with HIV through heterosexual contact before and after diagnosis in some areas in Henan province

To understand the factors associated with high risk behaviors among people newly diagnosed to be infected with HIV through heterosexual contact before and after diagnoses in some areas in Henan province, and evaluate the risk of secondary transmission. A face to face interview was conducted among people infected with HIV through heterosexual contact by using self-designed questionnaires during January-May in 2015. Among 361 HIV infected persons, the proportions of those with commercial heterosexual behaviors or sex with irregular sex partners decreased from 77.3%(279/361) and 28.5%(103/361) before diagnosis to 13.6%(49/361) and 2.5%(9/361) after diagnosis, the difference was significant (χ(2)=16.66, P<0.001; χ(2)=4.80, P=0.03). The subjects surveyed always had more commercial heterosexual behaviors in Henan, Guangdong and Zhejiang provinces before and after diagnosis. After HIV infection confirmation, the condom use rates were 51.0%(25/49) for commercial heterosexual behaviors, 88.5% (184/208) for sex with regular partners and 88.9%(8/9) for sex with irregular partners, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that risk behaviors associated with HIV transmission included commercial sexual behaviors, previous HIV detection and age of 35 years or older. Extramarital heterosexual behavior has posed serious challenge to the prevention and control of HIV spread. It is necessary to inform the HIV test results, improve the intervention and promote condom use in people with history of commercial sex and people aged ≥35 years.

HIV risk after release from prison: a pilot case-control study in Canada, France, Ivory Coast and South Africa

This study aimed to assess HIV knowledge, risk perception and risk behaviour of ex-offenders at risk of new infection and to compare them with the general population. A case-control interview study was conducted with conveniently sampled ex-offenders and persons with no history of incarceration in four countries (Canada, France, Ivory Coast, South Africa). The total sample included 232 participants with a mean age of 33.9 years (SD=9.8 years). Results indicate various high HIV risk behaviours including multiple sexual partners, irregular sexual partner, and commercial sexual partner. Other risk factors were unprotected sex at last intercourse with a regular partner, with an irregular partner and with a commercial sexual partner. A history of incarceration did not differentiate risk for infection. Younger age, coming from the Ivory Coast, and higher HIV risk perception were found to be associated with HIV risk behaviour. Prevention efforts should focus on education, promotion of safe sex and substance abuse treatment.

P4.110 Sexual Risk Behavior and the Efficacy of Psycho-Education in Improving Adherence to Secondary Prevention Information Among People Living with HIV/AIDS in Ibadan, Nigeria

BackgroundFindings have shown that adherence to secondary prevention information is low among people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHAs) in Sub Saharan Africa including Nigeria. However, the effectiveness of Psycho-education...

Undisclosed human immunodeficiency virus risk factors identified through a computer‐based questionnaire program among blood donors in Brazil

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk factor screening among blood donors remains a cornerstone for the safety of blood supply and is dependent on prospective donor self-disclosure and an attentive predonation interview. Audio computer-assisted structured interview (ACASI) has been shown to increase self-reporting of risk behaviors. This cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2009 and March 2011 at four Brazilian blood centers to identify the population of HIV-negative eligible blood donors that answered face-to-face interviews without disclosing risks, but subsequently disclosed deferrable risk factors by ACASI. Compared to the donor interview, the ACASI contained expanded content on demographics, sexual behavior, and other HIV risk factors questions. A total of 901 HIV-negative blood donors were interviewed. On the ACASI, 13% of donors (n = 120) declared a risk factor that would have resulted in deferral that was not disclosed during the face-to-face assessment. The main risk factors identified were recent unprotected sex with an unknown or irregular partner (49 donors), sex with a person with exposure to blood or fluids (26 donors), multiple sexual partners (19 donors), and male-male sexual behavior (10 donors). Independent factors associated with the disclosure of any risk factor for HIV were age (≥40 years vs. 18-25 years; adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.23-0.88) and blood center (Hemope vs. Hemominas; AOR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.42-4.44). ACASI elicited increased disclosure of HIV risk factors among blood donors. ACASI may be a valuable modality of interview to be introduced in Brazilian blood banks.

SIDA i mladi

Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrom (AIDS) today is one of the most serious diseases, that equally affects developed and undeveloped countries. While specific immunization isn't yet available, the biggest attention is dedicated to people's education, because knowledge and healthy behaviour are the strongest arm in fighting AIDS. The aim of the study is to comprehend the level of Serbian population's knowledge about AIDS, risky behaviour and protection. Data of extensive inquiry held by the Institute for public health of Serbia in 2000. and 2006. were analyzed. The results showed that for HIV infection and AIDS knew about 90 % of Serbian population, both young people between 15 and 19 years old, and adults over 20 years. This knowledge is remarkably higher in urban than in rural population, in more educated and richer people. The knowledge about ways of transmission and protection from AIDS is very poor. Only 17,8 % of young people has this knowledge, more urban and richer inhabitants. Some more than 50 % of young and adult population know that AIDS is transmitted by sexual contact. About 70 % young and 73 % adult population know that one sexual partner, and especially use of preservative during sexual intercourse, are safe protection from AIDS. However, preservative during sexual intercourse with irregular partner always use only 15,3 %, and sometimes 12,3 % of people investigated. Only some more than one third of investigated (36,3 %) know that can be tested and where, and only neglected number (4,5 %) was tested. Although 55 % of population knows that AIDS is transmitted by sexual contact, only 3 % know that can be infected because of risky sexual behaviour. As a conclusion, only 20,3 % of Serbian population has regular view about AIDS, more in Belgrade and urban settlements, women and richer inhabitants.

Seksualna aktivnost stanovništva Srbije

Sexual activity of population, especially young people, is multiply significant for the population's health status. The beginning of sexual intercourses is constantly moving toward the younger age. The aim of the paper is observing the sexual activity in Serbia's population according to gender, age, territory, place of living, level of education and material status. Accordingly, the Institute of Public Health of Serbia made a survey in the whole territory of Serbia in 2000 and 2006. The results have shown that the experience in the sexual intercourse prelude such as embrace and kissing is acquired at an early age: at age of 10 increasing until the age of 14; thereafter the line is decreasing. The 91% citizens have the sexual intercourses. The sexual intercourses with the same gender have 2, 4% citizens, whereas 7, 6% citizens have sexual relations with irregular partner. The first sexual experience is acquired at the age of 17. Those intercourses have 56.2% young people have such intercourses. The beginning of sexual life is rising with educational level and material status. The reason of beginning of sexual life is love and because most of the friends have already entered into, the physical attraction and just the time for it. The reason for non-beginning of sexual life is the opinion that it is too early for it and the lack of partner. Contraceptive drugs are used by 37, 7% women and 36, 9% exert unknown methods. Interrupted coitus, women's days barren, condoms and intrauterine spiral are most frequent methods of contraception. Neither contraceptive methods is used by 21, 4% citizens.

AIDS-related knowledge and behaviors in Mozambique: Connaissances et comportements face au SIDA en Mozambique

The objective of this study was to describe attitudes and knowledge about AIDS among the population aged 15 to 49 in Chókwè (Mozambique) during the period from March to May 2004, and to study associated factors. Cross-sectional study conducted by interviewing 1,055 people aged 15 to 49, of both sexes, residents in Chókwè (68,698 inhabitants). The questionnaires employed are known as the Behavior Surveillance Survey. Dependent variables were: knowledge about transmission routes and preventive methods, use of condoms and having had sexual relations with an irregular partner during the past 12 months. Odds ratios were calculated for the association between these variables and age, sex, educational level, neighborhood of residence, number of relations in the last 30 days, and whether AIDS tested, by fitting Logistic Regression models (bivariate and multivariate). Over 99% of the sexually active population of Chókwè knew about AIDS and condoms. More than half of the population of Chókwè has a good knowledge of preventive methods and of transmission routes. 72.9% of men and 91.3% of women did not use the condom when having sexual relationships. It was observed that a low educational level implied a lower degree of knowledge about preventive methods (OR=2.48, 95% CI: 1.60-3.84) and about transmission routes (OR=2.49, 95% CI: 1.37-4.52), less condom use and less relations with irregular or sporadic partners. The probability of not using condoms was higher among females, among people living in less privileged districts, with no education (OR=3.79; 95% CI: 1.80-7.99), with regular partners (OR=4.36; 95% CI: 1.93-9.84) and among people who have not had an AIDS test. Knowledge of preventive methods and transmission routes is good in more than half of the population of Chókwè. The majority of men and women do not use the condom when having sexual intercourse. Moreover, inequalities may be observed as a function of educational level and district socioeconomic level. Knowledge of preventive practices, mainly among socio-economically disadvantaged groups, must be improved and strategies designed to broaden access to use of condoms by everyone should be implemented.

Effects of a Brief Health Education Intervention on AIDS among Young Chinese Adults in Hong Kong

To examine the effects of an HIV/AIDS educational intervention among young Chinese adults in Hong Kong, we carried out a study among a group of 118 young subjects (most aged 18‐25 years). Subjects were recruited from a service force and were assigned to intervention and control groups. Respondents in the intervention group attended one 90-min educational session. At baseline there was no significant difference in different variables among participants in the study. At follow-up four months later, participants in the HIV/AIDS intervention group had increased knowledge of AIDS, more positive attitudes towards AIDS prevention, held higher perception of sexually transmitted disease (STD) risk, showed higher intention to use condoms with regular and irregular partners and talked more with friends about safer sex. Respondents in the control group had more positive attitudes towards AIDS prevention and held higher perception of illness risk with no other significant changes. This first intervention study among young Chinese adults in Hong Kong identified the usefulness and limitations of an HIV/AIDS educational program. The effectiveness and limitation of the current intervention serve as an initial attempt in conducting similar studies in the future targeting the Chinese youth.

Sexual Behaviour of Male Teenagers Attending a City Department for Skin and Venereal Diseases in Belgrade

A study of sexual behaviour of teenagers is essential in the design of an effective intervention programme for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). A questionnaire was administered to 380 men, attending the department for skin and venereal diseases in Belgrade in the period from January 2000 to June 2001. Two groups were compared, 'STD cases' (attending for suspected STDs) and controls (with skin mycotic diseases). In multivariate logistic regression analysis the following risk factors were significantly more frequent in STD cases: sex on the same day as the first encounter (odds ratio (OR)= 2.62, 95% CI = 1.58-4.34), history of previous STD (OR = 3.60, 95% CI = 1.74-7.45) and never using a condom with an irregular partner (OR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.10-4.38).

Characteristics of sexual behavior among teenagers in Belgrade

The risks associated with teenage sex include pregnancy and a high rate of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The study compared female teenagers. 32 with STDs and 90 with fungal skin infections who were treated in the City Center for Skin and Venereal Diseases in Belgrade from January 2000 to June 2001. An anonymous questionnaire was used to collect data and an univariate logistic regression analysis was performed Thle mean age of participants was 18.2 years. About 40% of respondents reported to have their first sexual intercourse at the age of 14-16 years. The majority of cases and controls had one or two partners, but a greater percentage of cases had six or more partners compared to controls (12.5% vs. 3.3%). Adolescents with STDs frequently had sexual intercourse on the first date (p < 0.05), and more frequently reported previous STDs in their personal history (p < 0.05). Consistent use of condoms was less frequent among cases than among controls, both with steady (9.4% vs. 27.8%) and irregular partners (30.0% vs. 70.6%). The majority of teenagers (95%) thinks that sexual education at schools should be better. According to the results obtained, which are in agreement with literature data, teenagers should change their behavior, especially with respect to condom use both during vaginal and anal sex. Health education at schools could probably influence future sexual behavior, and counseling for STDs should be offered to all teenagers attending STD clinics. The best way to avoid unwanted pregnancy and STDs is to delay the first sexual experience, reduce the number of sexual partners and increase the protection by condom use.