Document 2405
 DOCN  M94A2405
 TI    Risk behaviors among women with HIV/AIDS who report sex with women. SHAS
       Project Group.
 DT    9412
 AU    Chu SY; Diaz T; Schable B; CDC, Atlanta, GA.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):311 (abstract no. PC0173). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94370170
 AB    OBJECTIVE: To describe behavioral risk factors among women with HIV/AIDS
       who report sex with other women. METHODS: Between January 1990 and
       September 1993, 1,122 women with HIV/AIDS in 11 U.S. states and cities
       were interviewed. Sixty-five (5.8%) women reported they had sexual
       contact with a woman in the past 5 years. RESULTS: Among the 65 women
       with HIV/AIDS who reported sex with another woman in the past 5 years,
       55 (86%) also reported sex with men in the same time period. Among these
       55 behaviorally bisexual women, 33 (60%) reported a history of a STD, 8
       (15%) reported sex with a bisexual man, and 31 (55%) reported exchanging
       sex for money or drugs; 38 (69%) reported injecting drug use and 20
       (36%) reported crack use. Ten women reported sexual contact only with
       other women in the past 5 years, among whom, 8 (80%) reported injecting
       drug use, one woman had received a blood transfusion before March 1985,
       and one woman had no identified risk. This woman was diagnosed with AIDS
       in October 1991, and self-identifies as a lesbian. However, she reported
       sex with men in the early 1980's and had at least one abnormal pap smear
       with evidence of human papilloma virus. CONCLUSIONS: Although we were
       unable to demonstrate female-to-female transmission as the only
       potential exposure source among the women we surveyed, we identified a
       high prevalence of preventable HIV risk behaviors among women with
       HIV/AIDS who have sex with women. Women with HIV/AIDS who have sex with
       women may identify as lesbian, bisexual, or heterosexual but much of
       their high risk behavior is related to sex with men or drug use.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/TRANSMISSION  Bisexuality  Blood
       Transfusion  Female  *Homosexuality  Human  HIV Infections/*TRANSMISSION
       Male  Risk Factors  Sex Behavior  Substance Abuse/COMPLICATIONS  MEETING
       ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).