259488 Condom use and concurrent sexual partnerships among high risk heterosexuals in Houston, TX

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Hafeez Rehman, MD, MPH, CPH , Bureau of Epidemiology, Houston Department of Health amnd Human Services, Houston, TX
Karen Chronister, Ph D , Bureau of Epidemiology, Houston Department of Health & Human Services, Houston, TX
Marcia Wolverton, MPH , Bureau of Epidemiology, Houston Department of Health and Human Services, Houston, TX
Background: Condom use is an important measure to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Concurrent sexual partnerships increase the transmission of STDs. Lack of condom use and concurrent sexual partnerships together influence the incidence of HIV and other STDs. This cross-sectional study looks at the frequency of condom use and concurrent sexual partnerships among high risk heterosexuals.

Methods: Respondent Driven Sampling was used to recruit high risk heterosexuals in Houston, Texas for the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance in 2010. High risk heterosexuals are described as adult men or women having an association with high risk areas, defined by high rates of HIV and poverty. Concurrent sexual partnership is defined as having multiple sexual partners at the same time.

Results: A total of 593 participants with a mean age of 35.67 were recruited for the project. The majority of participants were African American (95%) with low levels of education and employment. Only 30% of men and 21% women used condoms last time they had vaginal sex. The percentage of condom use during anal sex was even lower in both men (14%) and women (12%). Both men (72%) and women (52%) had sexual relationships with more than one person at the same time during the past year.

Conclusion: The high frequency of concurrent sexual partnerships indicates the existence of intense sexual interaction which may facilitate the spread of HIV and other STDs. Low condom use also enhances the disease transmission.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control

Learning Objectives:
1.Describe the trends in condom use among high risk heterosexuals in Houston, TX. 2.Describe the trends in concurrent sexual partnerships among high risk heterosexuals. 3.Discuss the implications of low condom use and concurrent sexual partnerships on HIV and STDs transmission.

Keywords: Condom Use, Sexual Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the Epidemiologist at the Bureau of Epidemiology, Houston Department of Health and Human Services. I have over eight years’ experience in research and methods and have been involved in research among populations at high-risk for HIV. I have been associated with the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) program in Houston since its inception in 2003. I have been the project coordinator of the NHBS for MSM, IDU and HET cycles.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.

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