Differences in sexual behaviour between HIV-infected pregnant women and their husbands in Bangkok, Thailand
Bennetts, A.; Shaffer, N.; Phophong, P.; Chaiyakul, P.; Mock, P.A.; Neeyapun, K.; Bhadrakom, C.; Mastro, T.D.
Aids Care 11(6): 649-661
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0954-0121 PMID: 10716006 DOI: 10.1080/09540129947569Document Number: 525140
This study compared the sexual behaviors of HIV-infected pregnant women and their husbands in Bangkok, Thailand. Researchers interviewed a total of 102 HIV-infected pregnant women and their husbands (30% of whom were HIV-negative). Using matched and unmatched analysis, sociodemographic and risk factor indicators among men and women in stable couple relationships were compared. Differences in sociodemographic or risk factor profiles between HIV-serodiscordant couples and seroconcordant couples were also investigated. Results revealed that income discrepancy between husbands and wives was smaller in discordant than in concordant couples, but the difference did not reach significance. Variables such as jobs, income, number of sexual partners, and presence of syphilis were noted to be much higher among husbands than wives. Men, regardless of HIV status, had consistently higher levels of risk behavior than their female partners. Moreover, women partnered with HIV-negative men, unlike women partnered with HIV-positive men, were infected outside the current relationship. Divorce or separation from a previous husband, younger age at first sex, and a higher number of sexual partners on the part of the wife were predictive of her husband being seronegative. The findings confirm the existence of a gender dichotomy in sexual behavior in Thailand, which is characterized by frequent partner change in males and female monogamy.