Risk assessment of sexual behaviors in serodiscordant couples

Abstract

All the young people we assessed were part of heterosexual couples, with equal numbers of males and females. The average age was 24.76 years, with a minimum of 18 and maximum of 34 years. Participants were mostly post-secondary education or training (31%), followed in proportion by secondary education (grades 4-8, 21%), but with a high percentage of high school and university (20%) as well. Thirty participants belonged to a family, while 10 were from foster care or placement centers. 46% of participants were in a relationship based on dating without living together, and equal proportions of 27.5% were either married or cohabiting. Regarding the duration of the relationship in which they were involved, the majority of participants (51%) had an ongoing relationship for more than one year, 30% between 6 months and one year, 15% between 3 and 6 months and only 3.8% estimated the duration of their relationship for less than 3 months. Eighty percent declared they have sex once a week or more, 5% less often than once a week, 10% said they did not have sex, and the remaining 5% refused to answer the question. Of the 85% of sexually active, 29.4% reported using a condom every time, 58.8% sometimes and 11.7% never.