The relationship between HAART use and sexual activity among HIV-positive women of reproductive age in Brazil, South Africa, and Uganda

A. Kaida, G. Gray, F. I. Bastos, I. Andia, M. Maier, J. Mcintyre, B. Grinsztejn, S. A. Strathdee, D. R. Bangsberg, R. Hogg

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44 Scopus citations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether current HAART use is associated with recent sexual intercourse among HIV-infected women (18-49 years) from Brazil, South Africa and Uganda. We conducted an analysis of survey data from a cross-sectional study, which enrolled 179 HIV-infected women receiving regular care from the Mbarara Hospital HIV Clinic in Uganda (n=85); the Perinatal HIV Research Unit in Soweto, South Africa (n=50); and the IPEC-Fiocruz cohort in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (n=44). The primary outcome was sexual intercourse in the previous month. Secondary outcomes were protected sex and contraceptive use. We found that overall, 46% reported recent sexual intercourse. After adjusting for covariates, recent sexual intercourse was not associated with HAART use (AOR: 0.76; 95%CI: 0.34-1.72); however, it was significantly associated with being currently married, wanting to have more children and having higher HAART optimism. Among women reporting recent sexual intercourse (n=83), HAART users were significantly more likely to practice protected sex (crude OR: 3.64; 95%CI: 1.41-9.38) and non-significantly more likely to use contraceptive methods (crude OR: 2.15; 95%CI: 0.77-5.99). In summary, self-reported recent sexual intercourse is not more likely among women on HAART. Moreover, sexually active HAART users may be more likely to practice protected sex and use contraceptives.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)21-25
Number of pages5
JournalAIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
Volume20
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2008
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Social Psychology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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