International Journal of STD & AIDS > Volume 19, Number 2 > Pp. 85-89

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ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLES

Sexual risk behaviour and HAART: a comparative study of HIV-infected persons on HAART and on preventive therapy in Kenya

A Sarna MD MPH ^* , S M F Luchters MD MSc  , S Geibel MPH , S Kaai MSc , P Munyao BSc , K S Shikely MD ^¶, K Mandaliya MD ^¶, J van Dam MD MSc  and M Temmerman MD PhD ^#

^* Population Council, New Delhi, India; International Centre for Reproductive Health, Mombasa; Population Council, Nairobi; ^¶ Coast Province General Hospital, Mombasa, Kenya; Population Council, Washington DC, USA; ^# International Centre for Reproductive Health, Ghent University, Belgium

Correspondence to: Dr Avina Sarna, Population Council, Zone 5A, India Habitat Centre, Lodi Road, New Delhi 110003, India Email: asarna{at}popcouncil.org

Unprotected sex (UPS) among persons receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) remains a concern because of the risk of HIV-transmission. A cross-sectional study comparing the sexual risk behaviour of 179 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) receiving HAART with that of 143 PLHA receiving preventive therapy (PT) with cotrimoxazole/isoniazid was conducted in Mombasa, Kenya. Forty-five percent of all participants were sexually active in the last six months. Participants receiving PT were more likely to report 2 partners (13% vs.1%; P = 0.006). Participants receiving PT reported more UPS with regular partners (odds ratio [OR]: 3.9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8–8.4) and also more sexually transmitted infections (STI) symptoms (OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.0–2.8; P = 0.059). More than 40% of all participants did not know the HIV-status of regular partners. Therefore, HAART was not associated with increased sexual risk behaviours though considerable risk of HIV-transmission remains. HIV-care services need to emphasize partner testing and consistent condom use with all partners.

Key Words: sexual behaviour • HIV • antiretroviral treatment • sexually transmitted infections

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