Changes in sexual behavior among HIV-infected women after initiation of HAART

Objectives. We assessed the association between initiation of highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) regimens and sexual risk behaviors among HIV-infected women. Methods. We analyzed data from 724 women who initiated HAART between January 1996 and January 2001 and who had pre-HAART viral loads at or above 400 copies per milliliter. Results. Sexually active women were less likely (odds ratio [OR]= 0.79) to report 2 or more partners during a 6-month period after HAART initiation than before HAART initiation. However, the risk for unprotected sex was higher after HAART initiation than before HAART initiation among all sexually active women (both those who reported 2 or more partners [OR= 1.84] and those who reported 1 partner [OR= 1.22]). Conclusions. Sexual risk behaviors are associated with receipt of therapy but not with therapeutic response, indicating a risk for transmission among female HAART recipients.