Changes in sexual desires and behaviours of people living with HIV after initiation of ART: Implications for HIV prevention and health promotion
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Date
2011
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMC Public Health
Abstract
Abstract
Background: As immune compromised HIV sero-positive people regain health after initiating antiretroviral
treatment (ART), they may seek a return to an active ‘normal’ life, including sexual activity. The aim of the paper is
to explore the changing sexual desires and behaviour of people on ART in Uganda over a 30 month period.
Methods: This study employed longitudinal qualitative interviews with forty people starting ART. The participants
received their ART, adherence education and counselling support from The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO). The
participants were selected sequentially as they started ART, stratified by sex, ART delivery mode (clinic or home-
based) and HIV progression stage (early or advanced) and interviewed at enrolment, 3, 6, 18 and 30 months of
their ART use.
Results: Sexual desire changed over time with many reporting diminished desire at 3 and 6 months on ART
compared to 18 and 30 months of use. The reasons for remaining abstinent included fear of superinfection or
infecting others, fear that engaging in sex would awaken the virus and weaken them and a desire to adhere to
the counsellors’ health advice to remain abstinent. The motivations for resumption of sexual activity were: for
companionship, to obtain material support, social norms around marriage, desire to bear children as well as to
satisfy sexual desires. The challenges for most of the participants were using condoms consistently and finding a
suitable sexual partner (preferably someone with a similar HIV serostatus) who could agree to have a sexual
relationship with them and provide for their material needs.
Conclusions: These findings point to the importance of tailoring counselling messages to the changing realities of
the ART users’ cultural expectations around child bearing, marriage and sexual desire. People taking ART require
support so they feel comfortable to disclose their HIV status to sexual partners.
Description
Keywords
Sexual desire, ART, HIV, Longitudinal, Sexual behaviour
Citation
Wamoyi, J., Mbonye, M., Seeley, Birungi, J., & Jaffar, S. (2011). Changes in sexual desires and behaviours of people living with HIV after initiation of ART: Implications for HIV prevention and health promotion. BMC Public Health: 11:633