Straight Platform Politics

District Of Columbia HIV/AIDS Epidemic – Part 11

Behavioral Surveillance: Findings continued

The District’s HIV/AIDS Behavioral Surveillance (HBS) Summary Report 2008 also looked at the risk behavior of concurrency – having more than one sexual partner. The HBS Report found that having more than one sexual partner was common, even for people with primary or stable relationships.

The vast majority of participants (74.2%) reported that their most recent partner was a main partner. But 57.9% also reported that they had 2 or more sexual partners in the last 12 months and 45.9% believed their last sex partner definitely or probably had sex with someone else during the past 12 months of the relationship.  See Part 7

This means that condom use is vital even in main relationships. The Report states, “Concurrency has been shown in many studies in the United States and abroad to be a key factor in the emergence of heterosexual HIV epidemics.”

The District’s intervention and prevention strategies must include the routine offering of HIV testing to all who present themselves for health care. This is especially true for Black females since they are at great risk of being infected even if they do not manifest common risk factors.

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District Of Columbia HIV/AIDS Epidemic – Part 9

Behavioral Surveillance: Participants

The District’s HIV/AIDS Behavioral Surveillance (HBS) Summary Report 2008 was released in March. This HBS concentrated on heterosexuals at risk of HIV infection (HBS-HET).

The targeted population for this HBS-HET was males and females 18 years and over who had sexual intercourse with a member of the opposite sex in the past 12 months and had some connection to a geographical high risk area (HRA). The HRAs were those with the highest poverty rates and the highest AIDS rates. There were 4 such HRAs: one was located in Ward 7, one was in Ward 8, one was located on the border between Wards 5 and 6, and one included parts of Wards 1, 2, 5, and 6. See Part 4

Participants filled out a survey and were offered free anonymous rapid HIV tests. The participants were given risk reduction materials, free condoms, and service referrals as needed. Participants also received monetary rewards for participating.

The majority of participants: was over 30 years old (61.4%), was black (92.3%), had never been married (61.6%), had a high school degree or less (85.7%), had an annual household income of less than $9,999 (60%), and, if insured, was insured through Medicaid or Medicare (91.8%).

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District Of Columbia HIV/AIDS Epidemic – Part 8

Behavioral Surveillance: Background

The District of Columbia HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Update 2008 was released in March of this year. The District’s HIV/AIDS Behavioral Surveillance (HBS) Summary Report 2008 was also released in March. This behavioral surveillance studied what people are doing and what risks they are taking before they are infected. Understanding risk behaviors is an important step in reducing the problem of the HIV disease in the District.

This HBS concentrated on heterosexuals at risk of HIV infection (HBS-HET). It was a partnership between DC’s Department of Health and George Washington University’s School of Public Health and Health Services. Unfortunately, the Report reinforced the Update’s bleak statistics and disheartening conclusions. (See previous posts on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in DC.)

The District has the highest HIV/AIDS case rate in the United States and this rate is considered to be of epidemic proportion. Unfortunately, heterosexual contact leads new transmissions: about 37% of newly reported infections are through heterosexual contact. The data imply that a generalized epidemic among heterosexuals at high risk for HIV may be emerging in the District.

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