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Jeffries WL, Peek CW, Zsembik B, Uphold CR. Sexual Intercourse, Quality Measures, and Dysfunction: Correlates of Sexual Health in HIV-Infected Men. Paper presented at: American Sociological Association Annual Meeting; 2006 Aug 12; Montréal, Canada.
In the United States, sexual contact remains the primary mode of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission-despite more than two decades of safe sex public health campaigns. Social research, however, has demonstrated the need to be especially attentive to contextual factors that influence the social and sexual interactions of HIV-infected persons in order to understand the nature of HIV disease transmission. The purpose of this paper is to explore sociodemographic, health-related, and substance use correlates that affect the sexual health of HIV-positive men. Our paper uses baseline and 12-month follow-up data of a 24-month prospective cohort study entitled, 'Predictors of Outcomes in HIV-Infected Men.' We operationalize sexual health using four indicators: having sex in the past month, sexual quality, sexual drive, and sexual function. Bivariate analyses reveal moderately strong, positive correlations between each of these variables. Income, the presence of a domestic partner, and moderate alcohol use consistently exhibit positive associations with sexual health indicators; acquiring HIV via homosexual contact and depression are negatively related to sexual health indicators. We discuss the implications of our findings by drawing on recent literature and conclude by offering suggestions for future research on the correlates of sexual health among HIV-infected persons.
