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Session 101 Poster Session HIV Incidence and Transmission Session Time: 4:30-6:30 pm Room 4E-F

772-W. Sexual Behaviors and Beliefs in Recently HIV-Infected MSM F. Hecht*, M. Chesney, K. Franses, C. Ramstead, S. Torosian, and J. Kahn Univ. of California, San Francisco Background: The incidence of HIV infection in men who have sex with men (MSM) in San Francisco is estimated to have nearly doubled in the past 5 years. The aim of this study is to characterize the sexual risk behavior and beliefs of MSM with primary HIV infection and compare them to high risk men being screened for primary HIV infection who were not infected. Methods: Subjects are recruited through a wide referral network by the Options Project study of primary HIV infection because of evidence of recent (< 12 months) HIV infection or because of potential HIV exposure and symptoms compatible with primary HIV. Laboratory testing is performed to determine recent infection and participants are interviewed with a structured questionnaire. We compared men who were recently infected with those who were found to be uninfected. Results: There were 172 infected men and 77 uninfected men enrolled between 4/89 and 10/01. In the 6 months prior to enrollment or first positive HIV test (which ever came first), recently infected men had a median of 10 sexual partners (range 1-700), and had unprotected receptive anal sex (URAS) with a median of 2 partners (range 0-65). In comparison, the uninfected men had a median of 5 partners (p< 0.001, range 1-60), and URAS with a median of 1 partner (p< 0.001, range 1-20). Both groups had unprotected insertive anal sex with a median of 1 partner. Among infected men, 37% had met anonymous partners in a bar, 38% in a bath house or sex club, and 28% over the internet. 31% of infected men reported believing that the availability of effective treatments for HIV was a factor in having had unprotected sex, and 34% reported believing that if someone had sex with them without a condom they were probably HIV negative. Conclusions: Recently infected men commonly had multiple unprotected sexual partners and had more unprotected partners than men who had suspected primary HIV but who were uninfected. The multiple unprotected partners among infected men indicates a risk for transmission as well as acquisition of HIV during this early phase of infection. Beliefs about improved HIV treatments and the HIV status of sexual partners may be important factors in unprotected sex leading to recent HIV infections in this population.

©2002 9th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections