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Abstract #160275

Sarah A. Littlefield, MPH¹, Marlena Gehret¹, Stephanie Skoler, MPH¹, Alana De Kock², Thesla Palanee, PhD³, and Nela Williams⁴. (1) The Population Council, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, 212-327-8614, SLittlefield@popcouncil.org, (2) School of Public Health and Family Medicine, The University of Cape Town, Falmouth Blg, Floor 5, Room 5.44, Anzio Road, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa, (3) HIV Prevention Research Unit, Medical Research Council, 123 Jan Hofmeyer Road, Westville Village Market, Westville, 3630, South Africa, (4) Setshaba Research Center, 2088 Block H, Soshanguve 0152, 0152, South Africa

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of selected sexual practices on HIV serostatus in participants screened for the Phase 3 CarraguardŽ microbicide trial. Study Design: The Phase 3 CarraguardŽ trial is a randomized clinical trial to test the efficacy of a vaginal microbicide in HIV prevention. 9,657 women were screened across three sites in South Africa: Empilisweni Centre for Wellness, Setshaba Research Center, and Isipingo Clinic. Methods: Sexual behavior data was collected through interviewer-administered questionnaires. HIV testing was conducted at screening. Results: All women reported being sexual active. 99% of the cohort reported a steady sexual partner and10% had sexual partners in addition to their main partner. At two study sites, Setshaba and Isipingo, women who reported multiple sexual partners were significantly more likely to be HIV positive at screening (odds ratio (OR)=1.32, 1.36, respectively). 20% of women reported that their steady partner had other sexual partners. These women were significantly more likely to be HIV positive at screening at two study sites, Setshaba and Isipingo (OR=1.36, 1.68, respectively). 49% of women didn't know if their partner had other sexual partners. Condom use at last vaginal sex varied based on the monogamy of a women's steady partner. 37% of women who reported partners with additional partners used a condom, whereas 31% who reported monogamous partners used a condom. Conclusion: The importance of woman-initiated HIV prevention strategies is reiterated by low reported condom use, lack of mutual monogamy and its strong association with positive HIV serostatus.

Learning Objectives:

• To articulate the association between certain sexual behaviors and HIV serostatus in women screened for the Phase 3 CarraguardŽ microbicide trial in South Africa.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Sex

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Paper discusses baseline data from the Phase 3 CarraguardŽ microbicide trial, being conducted at three sites in South Africa. Trial is slated to end March 31, 2007.

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.