| Publication Abstract Display | | Type: Published Abstract | | Title: Partner type variations in sexual risk behavior among HIV+ gay and bisexual men. | | Authors: Patterson TL, Semple SJ, Grant I | | Year: 2000 | | Publication: Annals of Behavioral Medicine | | Volume: 22 Issue: S Pages: S073 | | Abstract:There is a paucity of data on the relationship between partner type and sexual risk behavior among HIV+ gay and bisexual men. Our goals were to describe sexual risk behavior, and to examine the relationship between risk behavior and their theoretical predictors (i.e., social cognitive variable, contextual factors, characteristics of the individual), by partner type. The sample was 133 HIV+ gay and bisexual men who were enrolled in a sexual risk reduction intervention for HIV+ people. Individuals all reported having unprotected sexual relations with an HIV-negative or serostatus unknown partner in the previous four months. Participants mean age was 37.3; most were white, well-educated, never married, and asymptomatic. Our data revealed variations in sexual risk behavior by partner type. Men with steady partners had the most unprotected anal intercourse (UAI), whereas men with anonymous and casual partners had the least UAI (M = 14.4 vs 3.6 and 1.3, respectively, p <.001). Also, men with anonymous partners had significantly more HIV-negative or serostatus unknown partners(M = 18.7 vs 4.7 for casual and 1.1 for steady). The three partner type groups differed on three characteristics of the individual. Men with anonymous partners were significantly older and more likely to be living alone. African American men were less likely to be in a relationship with a steady partner. The three groups did not differ on contextual variables (i.e., alcohol use, drug use, loneliness, depression); however, differences in social cognitive variables were noted. Men with anonymous partners had the lowest scores on self-efficacy and outcome expectancies for condom use, negotiation, and disclosure behavior. These findings suggest the need to tailor sexual risk reductions to the needs of the individual and characteristics of the partner type relationship. |
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