ISSN:
1435-4373
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract To assess the prevalence of HIV-1 infection and study selected risk factors among patients attending a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases in Rome, 1442 outpatients seen consecutively between 20 February and 12 December 1989 were anonymously tested for anti-HIV-1. An evaluation of the trend of the HIV-1 infection was attempted by comparing the results of the present study with those obtained from a similar sample studied in 1986 in the same clinic. The overall estimated prevalence of anti-HIV-1 was 1.2 % among heterosexual non-drug user subjects and 16.1 % among homosexual or bisexual men. The anti-HIV-1 seropositivity was significantly higher in heterosexual subjects who reported sexual contact with intravenous drug users, as compared with those who did not report such exposure (12.5 % vs 0.8 %, p〈0.005). Comparing the present data with those of a study conducted in 1986 in the same clinic, a lower prevalence of anti-HIV-1 was found among heterosexual subjects (1.2 % in 1989 vs 6.0 % in 1986, p〈0.001). The availability after 1986 of several outpatient facilities attracting seropositive subjects and a change in the sexual behaviour of anti-HIV-1 positive subjects could explain this finding. Twenty percent of the heterosexual subjects and 62 % of the homosexual or bisexual men reported consistent use of condoms. In both heterosexual subjects and homosexual/bisexual men only the number of sexual partners in the previous year seemed to be related to the use of condoms, a higher proportion of subjects with two or more partners reporting the use of condoms, as compared with monogamous subjects (29.5 % vs 11.5 %, p〈0.001 and 68.0 % vs 37.0 %, p〈0.005). The infrequent use of condoms, in particular among heterosexual subjects, suggests that education campaigns conducted so far were partly effective.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01962072
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