Gender Differences in the Risk of HIV Infection among Persons Reporting Abstinence, Monogamy, and Multiple Sexual Partners in Northern Tanzania

Publish Year
2008
Publisher
PLoS ONE 3(8): e3075
Author Name
Landman K.Z., Ostermann J., Crump J.A., Mgonja A., Mayhood M.K., Itemba D.K., Tribble A.C., Ndosi E.M., Chu H.Y., Shao J.F., Bartlett J.A., and Thielman N.M.
Description
This article examines the association between the number of sexual partners and the risk of HIV seropositivity among men and women presenting for HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) in northern Tanzania. Among women presenting for VCT, the number of partners is strongly associated with rates of seropositivity; however, even women reporting lifetime monogamy have a high risk for HIV infection. Partner reduction should be coupled with efforts to place tools in the hands of sexually active women to reduce their risk of contracting HIV.