Trends in the acquisition of sexually transmitted diseases among HIV-positive patients at STD clinics, Miami 1988-1992

Article Abstract:

HIV-positive patients may not change sexual behavior relative to patients testing HIV-negative. Four Miami-area sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics began voluntary HIV testing and counseling in December 1987. In order to compare acquisition rates of new STDs between HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients, researchers reviewed medical records between 1988 for all patients having HIV testing. Overall, 53,500 people had at least one HIV test of whom 10.5% tested positive. The percentage of patients returning with a new STD within one year of testing was 16.3% in 1988 for HIV-positive patients and 16.8% for HIV-negative patients in 1988. It fell to 2.4% for HIV-positive patients and 3.5% for HIV-negative patients by 1992. Therefore, while the rate of new STDs fell precipitously, HIV-positive patients continued to become infected at rates similar to rates in the HIV-negative population. This suggests that counselling of HIV-positive patients was not responsible for the decline in STD rates.

Health aspects, Sexually transmitted diseases, Disease transmission

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Can we get people to participate in a study of sexual behavior?

Article Abstract:

Investigators must recognize and report potential sources of participation bias in sexual behavior research. Researchers' affiliations, sources of funding, and sponsors may introduce bias. Demographic characteristics and interviewers' styles affect subjects' answers to questions. Participants must be randomly selected from the community of interest. Those who decline to participate or fail to complete the study may cause the subject pool to diverge from the group of interest. Social pressures and subject's lack of knowledge may compromise the research results. The study design may involve one or more interactions between researchers and subjects in the form of interviews, observations, or medical tests that may produce participation bias. The topic of sexual behavior research may be sensitive or biologically-related, which influences people's willingness to participate. Published research often fails to provide information that allows readers to assess bias.

Evaluation, Sex research

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Human immunodeficiency virus partner notification: cost and effectiveness data from an attempted randomized controlled trial

Article Abstract:

The cost of partner notification appears to be similar to other interventions for preventing HIV transmission but its effectiveness is still unknown. Researchers attempted to test four different partner notification methods, ranging from the patient referring his or her partner to clinic staff contacting the partner. This attempt was abandoned because of crossover between the groups. However, the cost of partner notification by clinic staff was $2,200 per new HIV infection identified. The value of partner notification in preventing HIV infection was not determined.

Social aspects, Identification and classification, Social networks

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