Three studies (n=2,360) were included in the review: two were cross-sectional studies (n=1,434) with a validity score of 1 out of 8; and one was a pre-post design (n=926) that scored 3 out of 8.
Sexual abstinence and frequency of intercourse: About half of all participants in each study reported abstinence; in the cross-sectional studies this did not differ with anti-retroviral therapy status and in the pre-post study it did not change from baseline. The frequency of intercourse reported was also unrelated to anti-retroviral therapy status in one cross-sectional study and did not change from baseline to follow-up in a pre-post study.
Condom use: Both cross-sectional studies reported statistically significantly higher rates of condom use in patients on anti-retroviral therapies (p<0.001 where reported)
Type of partner: One study showed no difference with anti-retroviral therapy status in the percentage of patients who reported multiple sexual partners in the previous six months. Another found that the most recent sexual encounter was more likely to be with a main partner in the anti-retroviral therapy group (p=0.02) than in the non anti-retroviral therapy group.
Longitudinal risk and transmission of HIV: The before-after study found a significant reduction (70%) in the number of unprotected sexual encounters with partners with negative or unknown HIV status. This was statistically significant for both men (p=0.02) and women (p=0.03). Estimated risk of HIV transmission was reduced by 98%.
Sexually transmitted disease treatment: The cross-sectional study found anti-retroviral therapy patients were statistically significantly more likely to report treatment for a sexually transmitted disease in the previous six months (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.77 to 3.83).