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15th Annual Conference of the British HIV Association1-3 April 2009, Liverpool, UK |
UNDERSTANDING THE SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH NEEDS OF WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV
HIV Med 2009 Apr 1-3 (Suppl 1);15:20 (abstract no. P19)
G Cooney1, C Cohen2 and S Day2
1 John Hunter Clinic, London, UK, 2 West London Centre for Sexual Health, London, UK
BACKGROUND: This study looks at assessing the healthcare needs and service access of HIV-positive women within an outpatient HIV department.
METHODS: Questionnaire-based study in which a convenience sample of 69 HIV-positive women between the ages of 19 and 45 years and who were attendees of an HIV department were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire. Topics covered included; knowledge of cervical smear screening frequency, access of sexual health screening and contraception provision and where women wish to access services in the future. Women were also asked about fertility desires and access to preconception counselling. Serodiscordancy and disclosure within sexual relationships were also addressed. Results were analysed using SPSS 16.0.
RESULTS: The study suggested that women who had regular sexual health screens largely did so in their HIV departments (61%), of those who would consider having a sexual health screen in the future, 67% would prefer to do so in HIV departments. Contraceptive provision was sought mostly in HIV departments (56%) however there was increased interest in accessing these services both within the HIV department (61%) or G.P. services (25%). Sixty-six percent of women could identify that they required yearly smears, however only 49% of women stated that they had a cervical smear done in the last 12 months. Sixty-eight percent of women stated they were considering getting pregnant in the future and 85% of those would value preconception advice. Fifty-one of the 69 women were in a regular relationship. Fifty-nine percent of partners were known HIV+ and 6% did not know. The majority of women disclosed their status to their regular partners. Of the 13 women who had casual partners 42% had a HIV+ partners and 42% didn’t know. One third of women stated they never disclosed their status to their casual partners. Of those who had casual partners, 9 were in regular relationships. Overall reported condom use was 60% and notably in those whose partners’ status was reported as HIV negative, 75% used condoms always. Condom use in casual relationships was 61%. Fifty percent of women who answered the question on if they would like advice from health professionals on discussing their HIV status with their partners, 50% reported no.
CONCLUSIONS: While this is a small study results suggest that women would value a comprehensive sexual health service within their HIV outpatients departments. Of note a large number of HIV+ women are considering pregnancies and would welcome preconceptual care. The study also indicates a need to support Health Promotion topics such as cervical smears, condom use, and disclosure. Women’s interest in accessing certain services at their GPs would suggest a need to work more collaboratively with level 1 services to support this service.
2009-04-01
P19
Copyright © 2009 - British HIV Association (BHIVA) Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the BHIVA Organising Secretariat 1 Mountview Court, 310 Friern Barnet Lane, London N20 0LD