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This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2009.162602v1 100/4/714    most recent Submit a response View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Kalichman, S. C. Articles by Simbayi, L. C. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kalichman, S. C. Articles by Simbayi, L. C. Related Collections Global Health Social Science HIV/AIDS Prevention Sexual Health

Seth C. Kalichman, PhD, Demetria Cain, MPH and Leickness C. Simbayi, DPhil

Seth C. Kalichman is with the Southeast HIV/AIDS Research and Evaluation Project at the University of Connecticut, Storrs. Demetria Cain is with the Department of Psychology at the University of Connecticut. Leickness C. Simbayi is with Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS and Health, Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa.

Correspondence: Correspondence should be sent to Seth C. Kalichman, Department of Psychology, 406 Babbidge Rd, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269 (e-mail seth.k{at}uconn.edu) Reprints can be ordered at http://www.ajph.org by clicking the "Reprints/Eprints" link.

Objectives. We sought to examine behavioral risks and behavior changes associated with testing HIV-positive among sexually transmitted infection (STI) patients, in order to inform HIV- and STI-prevention interventions.

Methods. We performed a cohort study of 29 STI patients who seroconverted from HIV-negative to HIV-positive during 1 year of observation and 77 STI patients who persistently tested HIV-negative. Computerized behavioral interviews were collected at baseline and at 1 year, and STI clinic charts were abstracted over the same 1-year period.

Results. The STI patients who reported genital bleeding during sexual activity at baseline were significantly more likely to test HIV-positive. Reductions in number of sexual partners and rates of unprotected intercourse occurred for all STI clinic patients regardless of whether they tested HIV-positive.

Conclusions. Although risk reductions occurred, 5% of HIV-negative STI clinic patients subsequently tested HIV-positive over 1 year. Behavioral risk-reduction interventions are urgently needed for male and female STI clinic patients.