Comparison of 2 Measures of HIV Sexual Risk Behavior in Women in Outpatient Drug Treatment Programs.

OBJECTIVES

HIV/STD sexual risk behavior is common among women who use drugs. To effectively implement interventions in busy drug treatment programs, it is important to have a rapid and accurate measure of sexual risk. This study compared 2 dichotomous ratings of unprotected sex among women in substance abuse treatment who participated in a HIV sexual risk reduction clinical trial: (1) any unprotected vaginal/anal sex occasions in the last 3 months, versus (2) unprotected vaginal/anal sex at last sexual occasion (LSO).

METHODS

Sexually active women from 12 methadone maintenance or psychosocial outpatient programs who had a main (n = 363) or other male partner(s) (n = 117) were assessed at baseline for unprotected sex in the last 3 months and at LSO. These 2 measures were compared for congruence.

RESULTS

Participants who reported unprotected sex at LSO consistently reported at least 1 unprotected sex occasion in the last 3 months: 99.1% for main male partner sex and 93.8% for other male partner sex. Participants who reported using a condom at LSO were less consistent of those reporting condom use at LSO; only 30.3% reported protected sex at all sex occasions in the last 3 months with main male partner and only 67.6% for other male partner(s).

CONCLUSIONS

Use of one question about condom protected sex at LSO appears to be a partially useful tool. It can be useful for detecting sexual risk in clinical or research settings wherein the central focus is not on sexual behavior or when time is limited.