Psychological distress, drug and alcohol use as correlates of condom use in HIV-serodiscordant heterosexual couples.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between psychological distress, alcohol, drug and condom use in HIV-serodiscordant heterosexual couples.

METHODS

Structured interviews were conducted to collect demographic information, detailed data on psychological distress, drug and alcohol use and sexual behavior.

RESULTS

Analyses were based on 106 pairs of sexually active discordant couples. Significant differences among heterosexual condom users and non-users varied according to gender and HIV serostatus. Affect domains of interpersonal sensitivity and hostility were significant, as were the variables of regular drug or alcohol use and combining sex with drugs or alcohol. Employment was strongly associated with condom use in HIV-negative women whose regular sexual partners were HIV-positive men.

CONCLUSION

The risk of vaginal sex without condoms in HIV-serodiscordant heterosexual couples may be reduced by specific psychological counseling and attention to drug and alcohol use as risk factors. Further research on the effect of employment of HIV-negative women is required.