RISKY SEXUAL BEHAVIOR IN PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV

Abstract

Relevance. There is a continuing growth of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the need for effective design of preventive measures.Intention. To explore features of risky sexual behavior in people living with HIV with and without substance abuse and in healthy respondents.Methodology. The study involved 136 individuals in the groups as follows: 1st (n = 50) – drug users with blood-borne HIV infection, 2nd (n = 50) – heterosexual HIV infection, 3rd (n = 36) – without HIV infection. A specially developed clinical map was used, as well as an original questionnaire recording the characteristics of risky behavior and the main characteristics of the life situation of the disease (“Infection risk and the disease situation”). Statistical data processing included the Fisher criterion (ϕ-criterion).Results and Discussion. The characteristics of respondents’ sexual behavior related to gender, the presence/absence of HIV and the transmission route were revealed in the study. It has been established that HIV-infected and healthy respondents do not differ in the frequency of barrier protection methods (condoms) use. Various variants of risky sexual behavior were noted in all groups, in particular, unjustified rejection of condoms. The results are partially confirmed in the published data. In the Russian sample, non-use of condoms and the prevalence of “trust in a partner” were studied for the first time.Conclusion. Important components of prevention programs include increasing sexual literacy and working with people who use psychostimulants and other drugs.