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Sex Trade, Sexual Risk, and Nondisclosure of HIV Serostatus: Findings from HIV-Infected Persons with a History of Alcohol Problems

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The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships between disclosure of HIV serostatus to sex partners and recent sexual risk behavior, substance abuse, and violence among sexually active HIV-infected patients with a history of alcohol problems. Participants (n = 124) were 79% males; age 25–61 years; 49% Black; and 35% with less than a high school education. Separate logistic regression models were used to assess relationships between each independent variable of interest and nondisclosure. Results demonstrate that buying sex and having more than one sex partner in the past 6 months were significantly associated with nondisclosure of HIV serostatus to a sex partner. Findings from this study underscore the ongoing need for behavioral interventions with HIV-infected individuals concerning disclosure. Programs that emphasize serostatus disclosure and/or consistent condom use in the context of sex trade and with multiple sexual partners will be particularly important.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Data management was provided by DM-STAT, Inc., Medford, MA. The authors appreciate the contributions of the clinical staff of the HIV Diagnostic Evaluation Unit at Boston Medical Center, including Colleen LaBelle, RN, and Jennifer Doyle. We also acknowledge Dr. Anita Palepu and Dr. Theresa Kim for their feedback on this work. Finally, the authors appreciate the contributions of Howard Libman, MD, at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. This research was conducted in part in the General Clinical Research Center at Boston University School of Medicine, USPHS grant M01 RR00533. Development of this work was supported by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA): RO1-AA13766 (Clinical Impact of HCV and Alcohol in HIV-Infected Persons), RO1-AA11785 (Medication Adherence in Alcohol Abusing HIV Patients), RO1-AA10870 (Enhanced Linkage of Alcohol Abusers to Primary Care).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Behavioral Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Anita Raj Ph.D. & Jeffrey H. Samet

  2. Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Debbie M. Cheng

  3. Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Unit, Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Rachel Levison, Seville Meli & Jeffrey H. Samet

  4. Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St T2W, Boston, 02118, Massachusetts, USA

    Anita Raj Ph.D.

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Correspondence to Anita Raj Ph.D..

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Raj, A., Cheng, D.M., Levison, R. et al. Sex Trade, Sexual Risk, and Nondisclosure of HIV Serostatus: Findings from HIV-Infected Persons with a History of Alcohol Problems. AIDS Behav 10, 149–157 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-005-9050-x

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