Behavioral Changes Associated with Testing HIV-Positive Among Sexually Transmitted Infection Clinic Patients in Cape Town, South Africa

Toward the goal of informing HIV and sexually transmitted infection prevention programs, the researchers set out to examine behavioral risks and behavioral changes associated with testing HIV-positive among a population of STI clinic patients.

The subjects of the cohort study were 29 STI patients who seroconverted from HIV-negative to HIV-positive during one year of observation, along with 77 STI patients who consistently tested HIV-negative. At baseline and at one year, computerized behavioral interviews were collected, and STI clinic charts were abstracted over the same one-year period.

"The STI patients who reported genital bleeding during sexual activity at baseline were significantly more likely to test HIV-positive," the authors reported. "Reductions in number of sexual partners and rates of unprotected intercourse occurred for all STI clinic patients regardless of whether they tested HIV-positive."

"Although risk reductions occurred, 5 percent of HIV-negative STI clinic patients subsequently tested HIV-positive over one year. Behavioral risk-reduction interventions are urgently needed for male and female STI clinic patients," the researchers concluded.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.


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