BACKGROUND:

Sexual acquisition of HIV is influenced by choice of partner, sex act, and condom use. However, current risk-reduction strategies focus mainly on condom use.

GOAL:

To estimate the contribution of choice of partner, sex act, and condom use on the per-act relative and absolute risks for HIV infection.

STUDY DESIGN:

Per-act relative risk for HIV infection was calculated with use of estimates of HIV prevalence, risk of condom failure, HIV test accuracy, and per-act risk of HIV transmission for different sex acts. Absolute risks were calculated on the basis of these relative risk estimates.

RESULTS:

Choosing a partner who tested negative instead of an untested partner reduced the relative risk of HIV infection 47-fold; using condoms, 20-fold; and choosing insertive fellatio rather than insertive anal sex, 13-fold. Choosing one risk-reduction behavior substantially reduces absolute risk of HIV infection for heterosexuals but not for men who have sex with men.

CONCLUSION:

Clarifying the magnitude of risk associated with different choices may help people make effective and sustainable changes in behavior.