HIV and sexual risk factors

HIV and sexual risk factors
Needle sharing
It was found that 37.5% of inmates admitted to sharing
needles in the past, with 21.4% of them sharing a needle
the last time they took the drug (p < 0.001). However,Sexual activity and condom use
About 41.2% of drug users had only ever had one sexual
relation; however 38.2% had engaged in multiple
partnerships and two-thirds in extra-marital sex. 17.9% of
respondents also had a sexual partner who was an IDU.
In addition only 36.0% were in a long term relationship
(that is > 12 months) with their current sexual partner.
Five males (0.5%) reported a same sex relationship
with 2 of them admitting to anal sex in the past.
Table 2 summarises sexual activity and condom use.
Vaginal sex was reported by 86.3% of male and 95.3% of
female drug addicts. Overall, 37.2% never used condoms
and only 12.6% always used condoms during vaginal
intercourse with their partner. Females were more likely
to always use condoms compared to males (p < 0.001)
during vaginal sex. Interestingly, condoms were even
less likely to be used during oral and anal sex. The
female response rate for questions on oral sex (33.1%),
anal sex (21.5%) and sex with prostitutes (12.3%) was
low compared to the males. About one-fifth of participants
(18.5%) engaged in anal sex.
About 59.7% of males reported having had sex with a
prostitute in the past of which only 23.2% always used a
condom. About 11.7% of male and female inmates have
had sex in order to get money for drugs in the past.