227929 Safer Sexual Practices among HIV-positive Individuals in Tanzania

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Donaldson Conserve , Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Gary King, PHD , Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Luis Sevilla, BA , Department of Agricutural, Environmental, and Regional Economics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Sinead Younge, PhD , Department of Psychology, Morehouse College, Decatur, GA
Jessie Mbwambo, MD , Department of Psychiatry, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
This study examined the relationship between partners' HIV-status and condom use among individuals who tested positive for HIV. It was hypothesized that individuals with HIV-negative partners were more likely to use condoms than those with HIV-positive partners. Data are from a survey of clients who visited the Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences' Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) site in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania between 1997-2008 (N= 45,071). Our sample (N= 1580 adults) consisted of 473 HIV-positive men (29.9%) and 1107 HIV-positive women (70.1 %). Results showed that more than half (56.6 %) of respondents who tested positive for HIV had not used a condom in the past six months. Also, 36 % of the participants reported that their partners had not been tested for HIV. Multiple logistic regression revealed that the two strongest predictors of condom use were respondents aged 45 years or older (OR= 4.9, 95% CI:1.73-14.34) and respondents with HIV-positive partners (OR =2.8, 1.7-4.6). Respondents with HIV-positive partners were 1.8 times more likely to use condoms than those with HIV-negative partners, however, the risk of future HIV-infections remains high. Future efforts to prevent new HIV infections should aim to increase HIV-voluntary counseling and testing, condom use, mutual monogamy, and prevention practices for serodiscordant couples.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Other professions or practice related to public health

Learning Objectives:
1. Discuss the sexual practices among HIV-positive individuals in Tanzania 2. Assess the relationship of partner's HIV status on the likelihood of condom use

Keywords: HIV Risk Behavior, Condom Use

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been trained during my academic career and have done worked on several projects.
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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