Sexual dissatisfaction and associated factors in a sample of patients on antiretroviral treatment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Background: Sexual expression affects physical, mental and social well-being. There is a lack of understanding on sexual problems among patients on antiretroviral treatment in Africa. Methods: Using systematic sampling, HIV-positive patients were selected prior to commencing on ART from outpatient...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2011-09-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/296 |
| _version_ | 1818534365207986176 |
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| author | Karl Peltzer |
| author_facet | Karl Peltzer |
| author_sort | Karl Peltzer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Sexual expression affects physical, mental and social well-being. There is a lack of understanding on sexual problems among patients on antiretroviral treatment in Africa.
Methods: Using systematic sampling, HIV-positive patients were selected prior to commencing on ART from outpatient departments from three hospitals and followed-up for 20 months (n=495) and interviewed with a questionnaire.
Results: Rates of self-reported sexual problems were high (34.3%, among men: 30.3% and women 36.0%) but significantly reduced from prior to ART (57.7%) to 20 months on ART (34.3%) (P=0.006). In multivariate analysis not being formally employed (odds ratio: 0.4, 0.2-0.9), having had sexual intercourse in the past 3 months (OR: 5.8, 1.7-19.8), taking medications for HIV-related opportunistic infections (OR: 2.5, 1.1-5.7), internalized stigma (OR: 1.4, 1.2-1.6), lack of social support (OR: 0.4, 0.3-0.6), and low depressive symptoms (OR: 0.9, 0.8-1.0) were found to be associated with sexual problems.
Conclusions: This prospective study with a large sample of persons on ART showed evidence of reduction of sexual problems over time and a number of factors influencing sexual problems which should be addressed in health care provider interventions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T18:10:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8f14fcb8c2f6478a98a1782ebd9a3fa6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1608-9685 2078-6786 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T18:10:42Z |
| publishDate | 2011-09-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-8f14fcb8c2f6478a98a1782ebd9a3fa62022-12-22T00:55:34ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Psychiatry1608-96852078-67862011-09-0117310.4102/sajpsychiatry.v17i3.29687Sexual dissatisfaction and associated factors in a sample of patients on antiretroviral treatment in KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaKarl Peltzer0HIV/AIDS, STI and TB (HAST ) Research Programme, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, and Department of Psychology, University of Limpopo, Turfloop, PolokwaneBackground: Sexual expression affects physical, mental and social well-being. There is a lack of understanding on sexual problems among patients on antiretroviral treatment in Africa. Methods: Using systematic sampling, HIV-positive patients were selected prior to commencing on ART from outpatient departments from three hospitals and followed-up for 20 months (n=495) and interviewed with a questionnaire. Results: Rates of self-reported sexual problems were high (34.3%, among men: 30.3% and women 36.0%) but significantly reduced from prior to ART (57.7%) to 20 months on ART (34.3%) (P=0.006). In multivariate analysis not being formally employed (odds ratio: 0.4, 0.2-0.9), having had sexual intercourse in the past 3 months (OR: 5.8, 1.7-19.8), taking medications for HIV-related opportunistic infections (OR: 2.5, 1.1-5.7), internalized stigma (OR: 1.4, 1.2-1.6), lack of social support (OR: 0.4, 0.3-0.6), and low depressive symptoms (OR: 0.9, 0.8-1.0) were found to be associated with sexual problems. Conclusions: This prospective study with a large sample of persons on ART showed evidence of reduction of sexual problems over time and a number of factors influencing sexual problems which should be addressed in health care provider interventions.http://www.sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/296sexual problemscondom usesexual risk behaviourHIV symptomsHIV medicationsdepression symptomssocial support |
| spellingShingle | Karl Peltzer Sexual dissatisfaction and associated factors in a sample of patients on antiretroviral treatment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa South African Journal of Psychiatry sexual problems condom use sexual risk behaviour HIV symptoms HIV medications depression symptoms social support |
| title | Sexual dissatisfaction and associated factors in a sample of patients on antiretroviral treatment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_full | Sexual dissatisfaction and associated factors in a sample of patients on antiretroviral treatment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Sexual dissatisfaction and associated factors in a sample of patients on antiretroviral treatment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sexual dissatisfaction and associated factors in a sample of patients on antiretroviral treatment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_short | Sexual dissatisfaction and associated factors in a sample of patients on antiretroviral treatment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_sort | sexual dissatisfaction and associated factors in a sample of patients on antiretroviral treatment in kwazulu natal south africa |
| topic | sexual problems condom use sexual risk behaviour HIV symptoms HIV medications depression symptoms social support |
| url | http://www.sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/296 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT karlpeltzer sexualdissatisfactionandassociatedfactorsinasampleofpatientsonantiretroviraltreatmentinkwazulunatalsouthafrica |