Correlates of sexual activity and sexually transmitted infections among human immunodeficiency virus-infected youth in the LEGACY cohort, United States, 2006

Rosanna W. Setse, George K. Siberry, Patti E. Gravitt, William J. Moss, Allison L. Agwu, John T. Wheeling, Beverly A. Bohannon, Kenneth L. Dominguez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: To determine the prevalence and correlates of sexual activity and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected youth. Methods: The Longitudinal Epidemiologic Study to Gain Insight into HIV/AIDS in Children and Youth (LEGACY) is an observational medical record study of perinatally and behaviorally HIV-infected (PHIV and BHIV) youth followed at 22 US HIV clinics. PHIV youth were HIV infected at birth or by breast-feeding. BHIV youth were HIV infected sexually or by injection drug use. We determined the prevalence of sexual activity during 2006 and examined correlates of sexual activity among 13-to 24-year-old PHIV youth using multivariable generalized linear models. Among sexually active persons, we determined the association between mode of HIV acquisition and non-HIV STI diagnosis using multivariable generalized linear models. Results: In all, 34% (195/571) of PHIV and 89% (162/181) of BHIV youth were sexually active. Eighty percent (155/195) of sexually active PHIV youth reported ever using condoms. Ninety-three percent discussed sex with a health care provider. Increasing age (adjusted prevalence ratio [APR]: 1.17 per year of age, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.12-1.23), having a boyfriend/girlfriend (APR: 2.74, 95% CI = 1.75-4.29), and injection drug use (APR: 1.38, 95% CI = 1.06-1.79) correlated with sexual activity after adjusting for socio-demographic and HIV-related clinical variables. Among sexually active youth, after adjusting for relevant confounders, PHIV youth were less likely than BHIV youth to have been diagnosed with an STI in 2006 (APR: 0.25, 95% CI = 0.13-0.46). Conclusions: Sexual activity among HIV-infected adolescents is common. Factors associated with sexual activity in this study should be taken into account in developing behavioral risk reduction interventions targeting PHIV youth.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)967-973
Number of pages7
JournalPediatric Infectious Disease Journal
Volume30
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2011

Keywords

  • Behaviorally infected
  • HIV-infected adolescents
  • Perinatally infected
  • Sexual activity
  • Sexually transmitted infections

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Microbiology (medical)
  • Infectious Diseases

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Correlates of sexual activity and sexually transmitted infections among human immunodeficiency virus-infected youth in the LEGACY cohort, United States, 2006'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this