Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-42gr6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T08:01:50.937Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Sexual-Risk Behaviour and HIV Testing among Canadian Snowbirds Who Winter in Florida*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2013

Katie Mairs  and
Sandra L. Bullock
Katie Mairs*
Affiliation:
School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo
Sandra L. Bullock
Affiliation:
School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo
*
†Correspondence and requests for offprints should be sent to / La correspondance et les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à: Katie Mairs, M.Sc. School of Public Health and Health Systems, BMH 3703 University of Waterloo 200 University Avenue West Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1 (kmairs@uwaterloo.ca)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Rates of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and sexual-risk behaviour for those aged 50 and over in the United States are highest and increasing in Florida, where many Canadian “snowbirds” winter. This pilot study examined the sexual-risk behaviour and predictors of HIV testing in a convenience sample of Canadian snowbirds who winter in Florida (n = 265). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the odds of testing were increased for the unmarried, those aged 50–64, those who had talked to a doctor about sexual-risk behaviour since age 50, and those who agreed that sex was important in their lives. Dating males were more likely to test than non-dating males. Dating females were not more likely to test than non-dating females; and males who dated were 13.6 times more likely to test than females who dated. Further research will improve understanding of Canadian snowbirds’ sexual interactions and HIV-testing behaviour.

Résumé

Les taux de VIH (virus d’immunodéficience humaine) et les comportements à risque pour les personnes âgées de 50 et plus aux États-Unis sont les plus élevés et les plus croissants en Floride, ou beaucoup de retraités migrateurs canadiens passent leurs hivers. Cette étude pilote a examiné le comportement sexuel à risque et les prédicteurs du dépistage du VIH dans un échantillon facilement accessible de Canadiens qui hivernent en Floride (n – 265). Des analyses multivariées de regression logistique ont révelé que la probabilité de tests ont été augmentés pour les célibataires, les personnes âgées de 50 ans, ceux qui avaient parlé à un médecin au sujet des comportements sexuels à risque depuis 50 ans, et ceux qui estiment que le sexe est important dans leur vies. Les hommes qui fréquentaient les partenaires sexuels étaient plus susceptibles que ceux qui n’avaient pas de telles rencontres de se faire tester pour le VIH. Les femmes qui fréquentaient les partenaires sexuels n’étaient pas plus susceptibles que celles qui n’avaient pas de telles rencontres de se faire tester pour le VIH, et les hommes qui fréquentaient les partenaires sexuels étaient 13,6 fois plus susceptibles que les femmes de se faire tester. Des recherches supplémentaires nous permettront d’améliorer notre compréhension des interactions sexuelles parmi les retraités migrateurs canadiens et de leur tendances à se faire tester pour le VIH.

Keywords

vieillissmentVIH/SIDAHIV testingmigration saisonnièrerisque sexuelretraités migrateursAgingHIV/AIDSHIV testingseasonal migrationsexual risksnowbirds
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 32 , Issue 2 , June 2013 , pp. 145 - 158
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

*

This work was funded by an internal University of Waterloo seed grant. We gratefully acknowledge Julia Schlossberg-Vinson for her assistance with recruitment and data collection, Hina Parmar for her assistance with data entry, Linda Jessup and Nancy Pearce for their time and insightful feedback, and Brooke Manderson, Christine Glenny, and Paul Stolee for their input and comments on earlier drafts of this article. We are especially grateful to the Canadian snowbirds who participated in the study.

References

American Association of Retired Persons. (2003). Lifestyles, dating and romance: A study of midlife singles. Retrieved March 8, 2009, fromhttp://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/general/singles.pdf.Google Scholar
American Association of Retired Persons. (2005). Sexuality at midlife and beyond: 2004 update of attitudes and behaviors. Retrieved March 8, 2009, fromhttp://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/general/2004_sexuality.pdf.Google Scholar
Barash, D.P., & Lipton, J.E. (2001). The myth of monogamy. New York: Freeman.Google Scholar
Brennan, D.J., Emlet, C.A., & Eady, A. (2011). HIV, sexual health, and psychosocial issues among older adults living with HIV in North America. Ageing International, 36, 313–333.Google Scholar
Bulcroft, R.A., & Bulcroft, K.A. (1991). The nature and functions of dating in later life. Research on Aging, 13(2), 244–260.Google Scholar
Capaldi, D.M., Stoolmiller, M., Clark, S., & Owen, L.D. (2002). Heterosexual risk behaviors in at-risk young men from early adolescence to young adulthood: Prevalence, prediction, and association with STD contraction. Developmental Psychology, 38, 394–406.Google Scholar
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2007). Prevention challenges. Retrieved March 11, 2009, fromhttp://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/over50/challenges.htm.Google Scholar
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2008a). HIV/AIDS among persons aged 50 and older. Retrieved March 10, 2009, fromhttp://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/over50/resources/factsheets/over50.htm.Google Scholar
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2008b). Risk factors for HIV transmission. Retrieved March 10, 2009, fromhttp://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/basic/index.htm#risk.Google Scholar
Cody, R.P., & Smith, J.K. (2006). Applied statistics and the SAS programming language (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.Google Scholar
Cooperman, N.A., Arnsten, J.H., & Klein, R.S. (2007). Current sexual activity and risky sexual behavior in older men with or at risk for HIV infection. AIDS Education and Prevention, 19, 321–333.Google Scholar
Crawford, M., & Popp, D. (2003). Sexual double standards: A review and methodological critique of two decades of research. The Journal of Sex Research, 40(1), 13–26.Google Scholar
de Leeuw, E.D., Hox, J.J., & Dillman, D.A. (2008). International handbook of survey methodology. New York: Lawrence Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Drummond, T. (1999). Never too old. Retrieved March 6, 2009, fromhttp://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,991136,00.html.Google Scholar
Florida Department of Health. (2010). HIV and AIDS among those 50 and older. Florida, 2010. Retrieved September 14, 2012, fromhttp://www.doh.state.fl.us/disease_ctrl/aids/updates/facts/10Facts/50plus2010.pdf.Google Scholar
Gaeta, T.J., LaPolla, C., & Melendez, E. (1995). AIDS in the elderly: New York City vital statistics. Journal of Emergency Medicine, 154(1), 19.Google Scholar
Gordis, L. (2004). Epidemiology (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders.Google Scholar
Health Canada. (2006). Seniors and aging - sexual activity. Retrieved March 15, 2009, fromhttp://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/alt_formats/pdf/iyh-vsv/life-vie/seniors-aines-eng.pdf.Google Scholar
Hodson, D.S., & Skeen, P. (1994). Sexuality and aging: The hammerlock of myths. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 13, 219–235.Google Scholar
Karlen, A., & Moglia, R. (1995). Sexuality, aging and the education of health professionals. Sexuality and Disability, 13(3), 191–199.Google Scholar
Karlovsky, M., Lebed, B., & Mydlo, J.H. (2004). Increasing incidence and importance of HIV/AIDS and gonorrhea among men aged >/= 50 years in the US in the era of erectile dysfunction therapy. Scandinavian Journal of Urology and Nephrology, 38(3), 247–252.Google Scholar
Katz, M.H. (1999). Multivariable analysis: A practical guide for clinicians (2nd ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Lindau, S.T., Leitsch, S., Lundberg, K., & Jerome, J. (2006). Older women’s attitudes, behavior, and communication about sex and HIV: A community-based study. Journal of Women’s Health, 15, 747–753.Google Scholar
Lindau, S.T., Schumm, L.P., Laumann, E.O., Levinson, W., O’Muircheartaigh, C.A., & Waite, L.J. (2007). A study of sexuality and health among older adults in the United States. New England Journal of Medicine, 357(8), 762–774.Google Scholar
Lovejoy, T.I., Heckman, T.G., Sikkema, K.J., Hansen, N.B., Kochman, A., Suhr, J.A., et al. . (2008). Patterns and correlates of sexual activity and condom use behavior in persons 50-plus years of age living with HIV/AIDS. AIDS Behavior, 12, 943–956.Google Scholar
Lynn, B. L. (2000). Seniors, lifestyle change decisions, and seasonal migration: A Canadian perspective. Toronto, ON: University of Toronto.Google Scholar
Mack, K.A., & Bland, S.D. (1999). HIV testing behaviors and attitudes regarding HIV/AIDS of adults aged 50–64. The Gerontologist, 39, 687–694.Google Scholar
Meston, C.M. (1997). Aging and sexuality. Western Journal of Medicine, 167(4), 285–290.Google Scholar
Milhausen, R.R., & Herold, E.S. (1999). Does the sexual double standard still exist? Perceptions of university women. Journal of Sex Research, 36(4), 361–368.Google Scholar
Mullins, L. C., & Tucker, R. D. (1988). Snowbirds in the sunbelt: Older Canadians in Florida. Tampa, FL: International Exchange Center for Gerontology.Google Scholar
National Advisory Council on Aging. (2002). Sex over sixty. Expression: Bulletin of the National Advisory Council on Aging, 15(2), 1.Google Scholar
Neundorfer, M.M., Harris, P.B., Britton, P.J., & Lynch, D.A. (2005). HIV-risk factors for midlife and older women. The Gerontologist, 45(5), 617–625.Google Scholar
Norman, G.R., & Streiner, D.L. (1994). Biostatistics: The bare essentials. St. Louis, MO: Mosby Year Book.Google Scholar
Onder, G., Penninx, B., Guralnik, J.M., Jones, H., Fried, L.P., Pahor, M., et al. . (2003). Sexual satisfaction and risk of disability in older women. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 64, 1177–1182.Google Scholar
Palmore, E.B. (1982). Predictors of the longevity difference: A 25-year follow-up. Gerontologist, 22(6), 513–518.Google Scholar
Pearce, N., Mairs, K., Bullock, S.L, & Jessup, L. (2010). Do older adults talk to their doctors about sexual risk? Results from the Canadian Snowbird Study. Presented at the Canadian Geriatrics Society 30th Annual Scientific Meeting: Ottawa, ON.Google Scholar
Pfizer. (2002). Pfizer global study of sexual attitudes and behaviors. Retrieved March 20, 2009, fromhttp://www.pfizerglobalstudy.com/study/study-results.asp.Google Scholar
Public Health Agency of Canada. (2003). HIV/AIDS: An attitudinal survey. Retrieved March 16, 2009, fromhttp://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/aids-sida/publication/por/attitud/pdf/attitudsur062003_e.pdf.Google Scholar
Public Health Agency of Canada. (2005). HIV/AIDS among older Canadians. Retrieved March 16, 2009, fromhttp://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/epiu-aepi/epi-05/pdf/epi_05_e.pdf.Google Scholar
Public Health Agency of Canada. (2006). HIV/AIDS attitudinal tracking survey. Retrieved March 17, 2009, fromhttp://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/aids-sida/publication/por/2006/pdf/por06_e.pdfGoogle Scholar
Public Health Agency of Canada. (2007a). HIV/AIDS among older Canadians. Retrieved March 16, 2009, fromhttp://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/aids sida/publication/epi/pdf/epi2007_e.pdf.Google Scholar
Public Health Agency of Canada. (2007b). Prevalent HIV infections in Canada: More than a quarter may not be diagnosed. Retrieved March 16, 2009, fromhttp://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/aidssida/publication/epi/pdf/epi2007_e.pdf.Google Scholar
Public Health Agency of Canada. (2010). HIV/AIDS among older Canadians. Retrieved March 16, 2009, fromhttp://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/aids-sida/publication/epi/2010/pdf/EN_Chapter6_Web.pdf.Google Scholar
Rashad, I., & Kaestner, R. (2004). Teenage sex, drugs and alcohol use: Problems identifying the cause of risky behaviors. Journal of Health Economics, 23, 293–503.Google Scholar
SAS Institute. (2004). SAS ® 9.1 SQL Procedure User’s Guide. Cary, NC: SAS Institute.Google Scholar
Schmid, G.P., Williams, B.G., Garcia-Calleja, J.M., Miller, C., Segar, E., Southworth, M., et al. . (2009). The unexplored story of HIV and ageing. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 87(3), 162–162A.Google Scholar
Statistics Canada. (2004). Canadian Community Health Survey. Retrieved March 21, 2009, fromhttp://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040615/d040615b.htmGoogle Scholar
Statistics Canada. (2006a). Census of Canada: Topic-based tabulations. Retrieved March 21, 2009, fromwww12.statcan.gc.ca.Google Scholar
Statistics Canada. (2006b). Imputation. Retrieved March 21, 2009, fromhttp://www.statcan.ca/english/edu/power/ch3/imputation/imputation.htm.Google Scholar
Statistics Canada. (2009). Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). Retrieved September 23, 2009, fromhttp://www.statcan.gc.ca/cgi-bin/imdb/p2SV.pl?Function=getSurvey&SDDS=3226&lang=en&db=imdb&adm=8&dis=2#1.Google Scholar
Strahan, R., & Gerbasi, K. C. (1972). Short, homogeneous versions for the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 28, 191–193.Google Scholar
Sullivan, D. A., & Stevens, S. A. (1982). Snowbirds: Seasonal migrants to the sunbelt. Research on Aging, 4(2), 159–177.Google Scholar
Szerlip, M., Desalbo, E., & Szerlip, H. (2005). Predictors of HIV-infection in older adults Journal of Aging and Health, 17(3), 293–304.Google Scholar
Villarosa, L. (2003). Raising awareness about AIDS and the aging Retrieved March 10, 2009, fromhttp://www.globalaging.org/health/us/aidsaging.htm.Google Scholar
Walz, T. (2002). Crones, dirty old men, sexy seniors: Representations of the sexuality of older persons. Journal of Aging and Identity, 7(2), 99–112.Google Scholar