Amplified HIV Transmission Risk Among People Living With HIV in Southeast Brazil

Abstract

This study investigated the factors associated with amplified HIV transmission risk among people living with HIV from a city in southeast Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 397 people living with HIV recruited in infectious diseases clinics. Data on risk of HIV transmission, sociodemographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, professional counseling, serological HIV status, HIV-related clinical data, and beliefs about risk of HIV transmission were collected through interviews and medical records. Hierarchical ordered multinomial regression analyses were performed. Amplified HIV risk transmission was associated with lower age, alcohol consumption before having sex, illicit drug use before sexual intercourse, and not receiving professional counseling about HIV transmission. The belief that HIV can be transmitted to a partner not living with HIV was associated with lower likelihood of amplified risk for HIV transmission. Our findings suggest the importance of minimizing substance use before having sex, professional counseling, and beliefs about HIV transmission on amplified HIV risk transmission.