Document 0451
 DOCN  M9550451
 TI    The efficiency of male-to-female and female-to-male sexual transmission
       of the human immunodeficiency virus: a study of 730 stable couples.
       Italian Study Group on HIV Heterosexual Transmission [see comments]
 DT    9505
 AU    Nicolosi A; Correa Leite ML; Musicco M; Arici C; Gavazzeni G; Lazzarin
       A; Department of Epidemiology and Medical Informatics, National;
       Research Council, Milan, Italy.
 SO    Epidemiology. 1994 Nov;5(6):570-5. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/95143318
 CM    Comment in: Epidemiology 1994 Nov;5(6):565-7
 AB    To compare the efficiency of male-to-female and female-to-male sexual
       transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), we studied 524
       female partners of HIV-infected men and 206 male partners of
       HIV-infected women in 16 Italian clinical centers. All of the partners
       had had a sexual relationship with the index case lasting for at least 6
       months and presented no other risk factor than sexual exposure to the
       HIV-infected partner. Among the 730 couples, 24% of the female partners
       were HIV positive, in comparison with 10% of the male partners. Using
       logistic regression analysis, including gender and controlling for
       condom use, frequency of intercourse, anal sex, partner's CD4+ cell
       count and clinical stage, sexually transmitted diseases, genital
       infections, and contraceptive use, we found that the efficiency of
       male-to-female transmission was 2.3 (95% confidence interval = 1.1-4.8)
       times greater than that of female-to-male transmission. Between-gender
       differences in the contact surfaces and the intensity of exposure to HIV
       during sexual intercourse are possible reasons for the difference in
       efficiency of transmission.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/EPIDEMIOLOGY/TRANSMISSION  Adult
       Case-Control Studies  Contraception  *Disease Transmission,
       Horizontal/STATISTICS & NUMER DATA  Female  Human  HIV
       Infections/EPIDEMIOLOGY/*TRANSMISSION  Italy  Logistic Models  Male
       Risk Factors  *Sex Behavior  Sex Distribution  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
       JOURNAL ARTICLE

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