Recorded presentation

Avina Sarna, MD MPH¹, Mark Hawken, MD², Susan Kaai¹, Paul Musya², Scott Geibel, MPH³, Gerard Kimondo⁴, Kishor Mandaliya, MD⁵, and Johannes Van Dam, MD MPH⁶. (1) Horizons Program, Population Council, 53 Lodi Estate, New Delhi, 110003, India, (2) ICRH, International Centre for Reproductive Health, P O Box 91190, Mombasa, Kenya, (3) Horizons/Population Council, P.O. Box 17643, Nairobi, Kenya, (4) ICRH, International Center for Reproductive Health, PO Box 91190, Mombasa, Kenya, (5) Department of Pathology, CPGH, Coast Province General Hospital, Mombasa, Kenya, (6) HORIZONS, HORIZONS/Population Council, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suit 280, Washington DC, WA 20008, 202-237-9406, jvandam@pcdc.org

Background: To avert new infections and re-infections it is critical that PLHA practice protective sexual behaviors. In light of concerns about treatment optimism, HIV care services including ART programs have an important role to play.

Methods: A cross-sectional study comparing sexual-risk behaviour among PLHA receiving HAART with PLHA receiving other care-services is underway in Mombasa. Interim results from a sample of PLHA (73 women and 37 men) receiving Isoniazid/co-trimoxazole preventive-therapy at two HIV care clinics, interviewed as they came for services, is presented.

Results: Mean age of clients interviewed was 36 years. More women than men were widowed or divorced (49% vs 22%) and unemployed (77% vs 54%). 45% of respondents reported sex in last 6-months; 90% had sex with a regular partner and more than 20% reported sex with casual partners. While most (77%) PLHA disclosed their status to their regular-partner, more women than men did not know their regular-partner’s HIV-status (50% vs. 29%); did not use condoms at last sex (27% vs 12%); thought their regular-partner had other partners (50% vs 6%). Of those who had casual sex; none of the women and half the men knew their casual-partner’s HIV-status; most women (86%) and half the men did not disclose their status to these partners; 29% women and 25% men reported not using condoms at last sex.

Conclusions: Condom use at last sex and knowledge of partner HIV-status was low for clients in this sample, particularly among women. Gender-sensitive interventions that foster communication and preventive behavior are needed in HIV care settings.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be able to identify and discuss protective and preventive sexual behaviour from a gender perspective

Keywords: Condom Use, Sexual Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation