Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2008. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - October 7, 2007
Lauren Cohen
This emerged during an exploratory study by the Human Sciences Research Council.
One hundred and four HIV- positive men and women ù on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for over six months ù and 111 HIV-positive men and women not receiving ART were surveyed on their sexual practices and incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) .
ART reduces viral load, Aids- related illnesses and deaths, and improves quality of life .
Human Sciences Research Council's Child, Youth, Family and Social Development research manager, Vuyiswa Mathambo, did the 2005 study at a KwaZulu-Natal clinic , although the results were only compiled recently.
Respondents in both groups were interviewed on their perceptions of the severity of HIV and Aids and on how often they practised safe sex.
The study revealed that:
-- One of four people on ART last had sex with a casual partner, of unknown status, without using a condom;
-- Sixty-three percent of those on treatment practised safe sex less often, while 51% of those not on ARVs said the same.
-- More people (84%) in the treatment group, compared with those in the non-treatment group (76%), said Aids was no longer life threatening .
-- Out of 69 sexually active respondents in the non-treatment group, 22 were treated for STIs. Nine of 71 in the treatment group were treated for STIs.
-- Eighty-two percent of people on ARVs felt being HIV- positive was no longer a big deal as medication was available.
Mathambo said previous studies had raised concerns about the perceptions of risk and the behaviour of those on ART.
"It seems that telling HIV-positive, sexually active adults to be 'well-behaved' is a bit short-sighted," he said.
Treatment Action Campaign policy co-coordinator Nathan Geffen said: "There is evidence that ARVs reduce the risk of passing on virus, but not sufficiently to dispense with condom use."
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