Sexual behavior and HIV risk across the life course in rural South Africa: trends and comparisons
Year: 2018
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: There is limited information about sexual behavior among older Africans, which is problematic given high HIV rates among older adults. We use a population-based survey among people aged 15-80+ to examine the prevalence of sexual risk and protective behaviors in the context of a severe HIV epidemic. We focus on variation across the life course, gender and HIV serostatus to compare the similarities and differences of young, middle aged, and older adults. Younger adults continue to be at risk of HIV, with potential partners being more likely to have been diagnosed with an STI and more likely to have HIV, partner change is high, and condom use is low. Middle aged and older adults engage in sexual behavior that makes them vulnerable at older ages, including extramarital sex, low condom use, and cross-generational sex with people in age groups with the highest rates of HIV. We find insignificant differences between HIV positive and negative adults' reports of recent sexual activity. This study provides new information on sexual behavior and HIV risk across the life course in rural South Africa to inform HIV prevention and treatment programing.
Source: AIDS Care
Institutions: Australian National University, University of Colorado Boulder, University of the Witwatersrand, Agincourt Health and Socio-Demographic Surveillance System, University of Michigan, Institute for Social Research, American University, University of Missouri, Indepth Network, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, The Ohio State University, Umeå University
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, University of Colorado, Wellcome Trust, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, National Institutes of Health, Medical Research Council, National Institute on Aging, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Awards: Predicting Impacts of Infectious Disease on Structure and Dynamics of Populations, Partnership for Social Science AIDS Research in South African's Era of ART Rollou, University of Colorado Population Center, Health, population and social transitions in rural Southern Africa: Elucidating pathways and testing interventions., Investigating and responding to health, population and social transitions in rural Southern Africa., G8186070293, HIV after 40 in Rural South Africa: Aging in the Context of an HIV/AIDS Epidemic, G8586960130, The University of Colorado Population Center
OpenAlex ID: W2799900749