Condom Use Rather Than Serosorting Explains Differences in HIV Incidence Among Men Who Have Sex With Men

New HIV diagnoses have been numerous and increasing among men who have sex with men (MSM) attending the STD Outpatient Clinic in Amsterdam; however, incidence remains low among MSM in the Amsterdam Cohort Studies (ACS). Authors of the current study examined whether sexual behaviors in the cohorts were consistent with serosorting - having sex with people of the same HIV serostatus - and whether this could explain the difference in HIV incidence.

From 2004 to 2006, investigators surveyed the sexual behaviors and HIV status of both cohorts - the high-risk STD patients and lower-risk ACS MSM - for up to four traceable partners in the previous six months. Pooled information was also collected on anonymous partners. Logistic regression was used to test whether sexual behaviors were consistent with serosorting and to test whether cohort membership was associated with having concordant traceable partners among MSM reporting unprotected anal intercourse (UAI).

A total of 513 MSM (54 percent lower-risk and 75 percent HIV-negative) were included in the study. Lower-risk MSM and high-risk MSM with traceable concordant partners were more likely to engage in UAI than MSM with partners of discordant/unknown serostatus (P"Sexual risk behaviors with traceable partners are consistent with serosorting," authors concluded. "Nonetheless, the higher level of UAI with anonymous or nonconcordant traceable partners more likely explains the increasing HIV incidence seen among [STD] Outpatient Clinic attendees than a difference in serosorting behavior."

Back to other news for October 2007