ABSTRACT

Sarna, Avina, Stanley M. Luchters, Scott Geibel, Susan Kaai, Paul Munyao, Khadija Shikely, Kishorchandra N. Mandaliya, Johannes van Dam, and Marleen Temmerman. 2008. “Sexual risk behavior and HAART: A comparative study of HIV-infected persons on HAART and on preventive therapy in Kenya,” International Journal of STD and AIDS 19(2): 85–89. (offsite link)

Unprotected sex (UPS) among persons receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) remains a concern because of the risk of HIV transmission. A cross-sectional study comparing the sexual risk behavior of 179 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) receiving HAART with that of 143 PLHA receiving preventive therapy (PT) with cotrimoxazole/isoniazid was conducted in Mombasa, Kenya. Forty-five percent of all participants were sexually active in the last six months. Participants receiving PT were more likely to report ≥2 partners (13% vs.1%; P = 0.006). Participants receiving PT reported more UPS with regular partners (odds ratio [OR]: 3.9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8–8.4) and also more sexually transmitted infections (STI) symptoms (OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.0–2.8; P = 0.059). More than 40 percent of all participants did not know the HIV status of regular partners. Therefore, HAART was not associated with increased sexual risk behaviors though considerable risk of HIV transmission remains. HIV-care services need to emphasize partner testing and consistent condom use with all partners.

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