HIV Diagnosis and Risk Behavior

Abstract

In this chapter, the author reviews and synthesizes the empirical evidence regarding the effects of HIV diagnosis on sexual risk behavior, and attempts to answer three primary questions. First, "What is the magnitude of reduction in sexual risk behavior resulting from an HIV diagnosis?" This question is placed in the context of the highly active anitiretroviral treatment (HAART); specifically, examining whether the magnitude of risk behavior reduction decreased following the introduction of HAART. The second question addressed is "How long do reductions in risk behavior persist?" Third, "What needs to be done, in practice and in research, to maximize the beneficial effects of an HIV diagnosis on transmission risk behavior?" (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)