Objective: To ascertain whether condom use consistency is associated with beliefs regarding a decreased likelihood of HIV transmission as a function of taking antiretroviral therapy.
Design: Cross-sectional analysis of HIV-positive women from Brooklyn (NY) enrolled in the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) who were taking any form of antiretroviral therapy at the time of data collection.
Methods: Between February and October, 1999, 145 HIV-positive eligible women participated in a structured, face-to-face interview. Interviews assessed attitudes and behaviors related to antiretroviral therapy and sexual risk behavior in the 6 months since a previous study visit.
Results: Over three fourths of the study sample (77%) disagreed with a statement that being on antiretroviral therapy decreases the chances of transmitting HIV to others. After controlling for number of sexual partners and HIV serostatus of partners, women reporting no association between HIV therapy and disease infectiousness were over three times more likely to report consistent condom use (odds ratio [OR], 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-8.3; p <.05).
Conclusions: Antiretroviral therapy may be associated with increased risk behavior when it is believed that regimens may decrease the risk of disease transmission. Education regarding potential deleterious consequences of inconsistent condom use should be part of ongoing HIV care.