Individuals are more likely to seek out HIV prevention and testing information at the beginning of the week, and are more inclined to engage in risky sexual behaviors over the weekend. Additionally, HIV-positive people have a slightly lower rate of antiretroviral adherence during weekends. Publishing their findings in AIDS Care, researchers analyzed 61 research papers for evidences of weekly patterns of such behaviors.

Web searches for HIV-related topics evidently rise at the outset of the workweek, as do calls to informational hotlines and queries to websites that give out information on HIV. Google search data shows that general health topic web searches peak early in the week.

“Human behavior is complex, and the more we understand about behaviors related to HIV, the better equipped we are to develop effective interventions that can improve the health of people living with HIV and reduce transmission,” study leader David Holtgrave, PhD, a professor and chair of the department of health, behavior and society at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said in a press release.

He and his coauthors theorize that the inclination to seek out health information early in the week is tied to the notion that Monday is a fresh start.

To read the press release, click here.