17th International AIDS Conference Mexico City, Mexico - August 13 - 18, 2008

EUROSUPPORT V: UNDERSTANDING SEXUAL RISK BEHAVIOUR AMONG PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV

Int Conf AIDS. 2008 Aug 13-18;17 Abstract No. MOAC0306

C. Nöstlinger ¹, T. Platteau¹, M.C. Mueller², M. Pozdal³, P. Csépe⁴, N. Dedes⁵, W. Schrooten¹, R. Colebunders¹, Eurosupport V Study Group
¹Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine, Clinical Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium, ²LMU, Infektionsabteilung Med. Poliklinik, Munich, Germany, ³University Zielona Gora, Warsaw, Poland, ⁴Semmelweis University, Dept. of Public Health, Budapest, Hungary, ⁵Synthesis Awareness, Research HIV AIDS, Athens, Greece

BACKGROUND: Understanding sexual risk behaviour among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) is a necessary prerequisite to support PLHA in preventing onwards HIV transmission and improving their sexual health. The study’s objective was to identify factors that influence sexual risk behaviour in PLHA. The study was carried out within the framework of Eurosupport V, a European research network with 16 HIV treatment sites in 13 European countries. The research was theoretically guided by the "information-motivation-behavioral skills model" (IMB).

METHODS: Using a cross-sectional retrospective design an anonymous standardized self-reported questionnaire was developed, pre-tested and distributed to consecutive patients in all participating treatment sites. Ethical approval and informed consent procedures were obtained. Variables assessed were related to the IMB model with some added variables identified through elicitation research (mental health, social support, service provision). Appropriate standardized scales were included. Bivariate analysis was carried out to identify the determinants of vulnerability to risk behaviour.

RESULTS: The sample included 1212 respondents (75% men, 25% women). Response rate was 39%. 32% of the sample displayed sexual risk behaviour defined as ‘unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse within the past 6 months’ with significant differences between women, heterosexual and homosexual men. For women, unprotected sexual activity was mainly explained by having a child wish (p=0.001), for heterosexual men by being recently diagnosed with HIV (p=0.03), and for homosexual men by use of illicit drugs (p=0.000) and erection-enhancing medication (p=0.000).

CONCLUSIONS: Our data show the huge need for including diversified counselling on sexual risk behaviour in standard HIV care in Europe. Counselling tools should take the diversity of risk factors and vulnerability into account and should be tailored to the individual and couple context. A better integration of HIV- and reproductive health services should improve care for women and couples living with HIV.

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2008-08-13
MOAC0306

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