Final published version
Licence: CC BY-NC: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence and correlates of sexual concerns and associated distress among women living with HIV in Canada
AU - Carter, Allison
AU - Gormley, Rebecca
AU - Muchenje, Marvelous
AU - Zhu, Denise
AU - Patterson, Sophie
AU - Kestler, Mary
AU - Hankins, Catherine
AU - Logie, Carmen
AU - Brotto, Lori
AU - Tharao, Wangari
AU - Lee, Melanie
AU - Li, Jenny
AU - Ding, Erin
AU - De Pokomandy, Alexandra
AU - Loutfy, Mona
AU - Kaida, Angela
PY - 2022/1/31
Y1 - 2022/1/31
N2 - Objectives: We assessed the prevalence and correlates of sexual concerns and associated distress among women living with HIV in Canada.Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional survey data from the Canadian HIV Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Cohort Study (2017-2018). Self-identified women living with HIV were asked about sexual concerns post-HIV diagnosis and associated distress (none, mild, moderate, severe). Five areas of concern were assessed, including difficulties related to sexual self-esteem, sexual function, relationships, and emotional and behavioral aspects of sex. Logistic regression analyses identified correlates of reporting any sexual concerns and severe distress about these concerns.Results: Of 906 participants (median age 48, Q1-Q3 = 41-55), 596 (65.8%) reported sexual concerns post-HIV diagnosis. We found a high prevalence of concerns related to relationships (43.3%), sexual self-esteem (49.4%), and emotional aspects of sex (45.4%), relative to sexual functioning (38.4%) and behavioral aspects (33.7%). Of those with sexual concerns, 36.7% reported severe distress. Reports of severe distress were the highest for relationship difficulties (32.5%), relative to other areas of concern (21.4%-22.8%). In adjusted analyses, women reporting sexual dissatisfaction and high HIV-related stigma had significantly higher odds of reporting sexual concerns. Conversely, those reporting higher resilience, better mental health, African, Caribbean, and Black identity, and sex as somewhat unimportant, not at all important, or neutral to their lives had lower adjusted odds. Factors associated with severe distress about sexual concerns included older age, body dissatisfaction, sexual dissatisfaction, and high HIV-related stigma, while better mental health and getting support from someone living with HIV were protective. While 84.4% of women had discussed with a provider how viral load impacts transmission risk, only 40.6% had conversations about sexual wellbeing.Conclusion: More attention to women's sexual wellbeing within social and relational contexts is critical to ensure the sexual rights of women living with HIV are upheld
AB - Objectives: We assessed the prevalence and correlates of sexual concerns and associated distress among women living with HIV in Canada.Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional survey data from the Canadian HIV Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Cohort Study (2017-2018). Self-identified women living with HIV were asked about sexual concerns post-HIV diagnosis and associated distress (none, mild, moderate, severe). Five areas of concern were assessed, including difficulties related to sexual self-esteem, sexual function, relationships, and emotional and behavioral aspects of sex. Logistic regression analyses identified correlates of reporting any sexual concerns and severe distress about these concerns.Results: Of 906 participants (median age 48, Q1-Q3 = 41-55), 596 (65.8%) reported sexual concerns post-HIV diagnosis. We found a high prevalence of concerns related to relationships (43.3%), sexual self-esteem (49.4%), and emotional aspects of sex (45.4%), relative to sexual functioning (38.4%) and behavioral aspects (33.7%). Of those with sexual concerns, 36.7% reported severe distress. Reports of severe distress were the highest for relationship difficulties (32.5%), relative to other areas of concern (21.4%-22.8%). In adjusted analyses, women reporting sexual dissatisfaction and high HIV-related stigma had significantly higher odds of reporting sexual concerns. Conversely, those reporting higher resilience, better mental health, African, Caribbean, and Black identity, and sex as somewhat unimportant, not at all important, or neutral to their lives had lower adjusted odds. Factors associated with severe distress about sexual concerns included older age, body dissatisfaction, sexual dissatisfaction, and high HIV-related stigma, while better mental health and getting support from someone living with HIV were protective. While 84.4% of women had discussed with a provider how viral load impacts transmission risk, only 40.6% had conversations about sexual wellbeing.Conclusion: More attention to women's sexual wellbeing within social and relational contexts is critical to ensure the sexual rights of women living with HIV are upheld
KW - HIV
KW - mental health
KW - sexual wellbeing
KW - social determinants
KW - women
U2 - 10.1177/17455065221074877
DO - 10.1177/17455065221074877
M3 - Journal article
VL - 18
JO - Women's Health
JF - Women's Health
ER -