Could misreporting of condom use explain the observed association between injectable hormonal contraceptives and HIV acquisition risk?

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Some observational studies have suggested an association between the use of hormonal contraceptives (HC) and HIV acquisition. One major concern is that differential misreporting of sexual behavior between HC users and nonusers may generate artificially inflated risk estimates.

Study design

We developed an individual-based model that simulates the South African HIV serodiscordant couples analyzed for HC-HIV risk by Heffron et al. (2012). We varied the pattern of misreporting condom use between HC users and nonusers and reproduced the trial data under the assumption that HC use is not associated with HIV risk. The simulated data were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for the reported level of condom use.

Results

If HC users overreport c

SUBMITTER: Smith JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5387890 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature