Seage George R, Holte Sarah, Gross Michael, Koblin Beryl, Marmor Michael, Mayer Kenneth H, Lenderking William R
Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2002 Dec 1;31(4):432-9. doi: 10.1097/00126334-200212010-00010.
To identify situational and partner characteristics associated with unprotected sex among women at risk for HIV infection.
The most recent unprotected and protected sexual encounters were compared using a case-crossover design among 1,647 women enrolled in a prospective cohort study conducted in six U.S. cities. Information collected via audio computer-assisted self-interview included detailed situational and partner characteristics for participants' most recent sexual encounters, with and without condom use. Paired odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for situational or partner characteristics that may differ between unprotected and protected sexual encounters, using conditional logistic regression.
In the adjusted analysis, partner age of older than 40 years (OR = 2.42), partner type (OR = 2.45 for a "steady" partner), partner use of alcohol (OR = 1.67) and drugs within 2 hours (OR = 1.42) of the sexual encounter, time since the encounters (OR = 0.41, 0.33, and 0.19), and exchange of sex for money or drugs (OR = 0.68) remained significantly associated with women's most recent unprotected sexual encounter.
Considerations related to partner and relationship characteristics should provide information for the development of interventions for women.
