Syndemic effects of HIV risk behaviors: results from the NHANES study

The aim of the present study is to use the syndemic framework to investigate risk of contracting HIV in the US population. Cross-Sectional analyses from The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We extracted and aggregated data on HIV antibody test, sociodemographic characteristics, alcohol use, drug use, depression, sexual behaviors and sexually transmitted disease (STDs) from cycle 2009-2010 to 2015-2016.We carried out weighted regression among young adults (20-39 years) and adults (40-59 years) separately. 5,230 men and 5,794 women aged 20 years to 59 years were included in the present analyses. 0.8% men and 0.2% women were tested for HIV-positive. Each increasing HIV risk behavior, was associated with elevated odds of being tested for HIV-positive (1.15, 95% CI: 1.15 to 1.15) among young adults and adults (1.61, 95% CI: 1.61 to 1.61). Multi-faceted, community-based interventions are urgently required to reduce incidence of HIV in the USA.