Some HIV-positive individuals engage in risky sexual behavior with non-infected partners

The prevalence of unprotected sex among couples in which neither partner is infected with HIV is similar to that of pairs in which either the male or female is HIV-positive, according to a recent study published in the journal AIDS Behavior. The researchers said that this finding indicates a need for more couples-based interventions to help reduce the spread of the disease in some populations.

The study's results showed that 18 percent of men and women engaged in unprotected sex with a partner whose HIV status was either negative or unknown, while 14 percent reported that they had done so with a significant other who they knew was infected with the virus.

However, the researchers said that HIV-positive individuals who received antiretroviral treatment were less likely to partake in risky sexual behaviors than those who were not medicated.

"Why we’re seeing this might be due to the fact that treatment is also accompanied by condoms and other prevention messages, so that when individuals are coming to get their treatment they are also getting sexual risk behavior prevention counseling," said lead researcher Kartik Venkatesh.