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Prevalence and Correlates of Heterosexual Anal Intercourse Among Men and Women, 20 U.S. Cities

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Abstract

Heterosexual anal intercourse (HAI) is not an uncommon behavior and it confers a higher risk of HIV transmission than vaginal intercourse. We examined data from heterosexuals recruited in 20 US cities for the 2013 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance system. We assessed correlates of reporting HAI in the previous year. Then, among people reporting HAI in the past year, we assessed what event-level factors are associated with having HAI at last sex. Thirty percent of women and 35 % of men reported HAI in the past year. Among people who had HAI in the past year, those who had HAI at last sex were more likely to have a partner who was HIV-positive or of unknown status or to have exchanged money or drugs for sex at last sex. Information that highlights the risk of HIV transmission associated with HAI would complement existing HIV prevention messages focused on heterosexuals in the U.S.

Resumen

El sexo anal heterosexual (SAH) no es un comportamiento inusual y confiere un mayor riesgo de transmisión del VIH que el coito vaginal. Hemos examinado los datos de heterosexuales reclutados en 20 ciudades de los EEUU para el 2013 provenientes del Sistema Nacional de Vigilancia del Comportamiento del VIH. Evaluamos las variables asociadas con el reporte de SAH en el último año. Asi mismo, evaluamos en aquellos que reportaron SAH en el último año, los factores asociados con SAH durante el último acto sexual. El treinta por ciento de mujeres y un 35 % de los hombres reportó SAH en el último año. Entre las personas que reportaron SAH en el último año, quienes reportaron SAH durante el último acto sexual eran más propensos a tener una pareja sexual VIH-positiva o de estado, o reportar haber intercambiado sexo por dinero o drogas durante el último acto sexual. Información que pone en relieve el riesgo de transmisión del VIH asociado con SAH complementaría los mensajes de prevención del VIH en heterosexuales en los EE.UU.

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Correspondence to Kristen L. Hess.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Funding

This work was funded by a cooperative agreement between the Health Departments of the 20 study U.S. cities (Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Detroit, Michigan; Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; Nassau, New York; Newark, New Jersey; New Orleans, Louisiana; New York City, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; San Diego, California; San Francisco, California; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Seattle, Washington; and Washington, District of Columbia) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Funding Opportunity Announcement #PS11-001).

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Hess, K.L., DiNenno, E., Sionean, C. et al. Prevalence and Correlates of Heterosexual Anal Intercourse Among Men and Women, 20 U.S. Cities. AIDS Behav 20, 2966–2975 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-016-1295-z

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