Differences in HIV-risk behaviours among recidivists and persons with their first episode of an STD in Guyana

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain differences in HIV-risk behaviour patterns between recidivists and persons having their first episode of an STD. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 300 consecutive persons who complained of a new STD. RESULTS: 164/300 (55 percent) persons were recidivists while 136 (45 percent) were persons with their first STD episode. Recidivists were more likely to be males odds ratio (OR=1.89; 95 percent CI 1.16-3.09) and Afro-Guyanese (OR=3.8; 95 percent CI 1.96-5.50). As compared to recidivists, persons with their first STD episode were more likely to be younger, <20 years old, (23.4 percent vs. 8.8 percent; p=0.009). No significant differences were found between recidivists and first-timers with respect to educational attainment and marital status. As compared to the first-timers, recidivists were significantly less likely to report condom use (OR=0.56; 95 percent CI 0.31-0.99) and two times more likely to report having had sex for money (OR=2.22; 95 percent CI 1.23-5.32). No significant differences were found between recidivists and first-timers with respect to mean age of first sexual intercourse and mean number of partners during the past 12 months. Recidivists were more likely to report alcohol use (76.2 percent vs. 58. percent; p=0.003) and use of marijuana (23.2 percent vs. 16.3 percent; p=0.176). CONCLUSIONS: Recidivists were more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behaviour patterns, indicating that they should be targeted by HIV-prevention programmes that focus on the reduction of high-risk sexual practices.(Au)