Academic literature on the topic 'HIV / AIDS;sexual behaviour;sexually transmitted diseases'

BACKGROUND: Studies about sexual risk behaviors can provide information to support design strategies to control the spread of HIV infection. OBJECTIVE: To assess sexual risk behaviors among women attending a sexually transmitted diseases clinic in Vitória, Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed among women attending an STD/AIDS reference center. Enrolled participants were interviewed and provided a blood sample to determine HIV status. RESULTS: A total of 276 women participated. among 284 selected; 109 (39.5%) were HIV-positive and 167 (60.5%) HIV-negative. Median age was 31 years (interquartile range (IQR)24-36) and 69% of women were between 18 and 34 years of age. Women reported high access to information about STD (87%) and AIDS (90%) but information about sexuality was less common (55%). HIV-positive women asked their partners to use condoms more often than HIV-negatives (31% vs. 5%, p=0.02), and were more likely to have used a condom at last intercourse (65% vs. 33%, p<0.01). Among all patients, questions regarding risk of HIV transmission through sexual intercourse (99.6%) and needle sharing (99.2%) were most frequently answered correctly, while questions regarding risk of HIV transmission through blood donation (57%) were least. CONCLUSION: Though this population reports easy access to information and services for HIV/sexually transmitted diseases, most report little understanding of unsafe sexual behaviors, particularly HIV-negative women.

Background: Most of the adolescents of remote areas of Nepal lack the basic knowledge about sex due to which they are suffering from various sex related problems. Objective: To identify the level of knowledge and attitude about sex, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) especially HIV/AIDS and their prevention in adolescents. Methods: This crosssectional study was conducted in various secondary schools of Dhankuta district involving 200 adolescent students aged between 13 to19 years. Collected data was entered in microsoft excel and analysed. Results: Regarding safe sex, most of the students (26%) believe that safe sex is having sex with single partner only and about 13% percent of them had no idea about safe sex. Most of them (94%) think that HIV/AIDs can be transmitted from one person to another person from unsafe sexual contact. Most of the students (93%) believe that avoiding sex with multiple partners could prevent from getting HIV/AIDs. Conclusion: The perception about sexually transmitted diseases varies among school students. Some still had misconception regarding the route and cause of transmission of STI. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hren.v10i3.7140 Health Renaissance; September-December 2012; Vol 10 (No.3);224-228

The aim of the study was to investigate the association between infection with HIV-1 infection and a history of other sexually transmitted diseases (STD). We were able to match 1295 HIV-1 infected patients who attended St Mary's Hospital between 1985 and 1991 with 1273 seronegative controls on gender, sexual orientation, injecting drug use and age at time of test. The cases were 3 times more likely to have a history of ever having had another STD than the controls: multivariate conditional logistic regression showed that, after controlling for sexual behaviour, for known sexual contact with an HIV infected individual or AIDS patient or with a resident from a high HIV prevalence area, area of residence and for year of test, a history of gonorrhoea, syphilis, hepatitis B, genital herpes or genital warts were all significantly associated with HIV-1 seropositive status. These findings reinforce the need for HIV containment strategies to be promoted in conjunction with containment programmes for other STDs.

SummaryThis study examines the knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among male youths in Malaysia. A self-administered survey was carried out on a sample of 952 never-married males aged 15–24 years. The respondents were asked about their knowledge of STDs, how these diseases get transmitted and their sexual behaviours. The data showed that 92% of the respondents knew of at least one STD (syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, herpes, genital warts, yeast infection, trichomoniasis or HIV/AIDS). About 95% of them knew of at least one method of STD transmission. Urban and tertiary-educated male youths showed a substantially higher proportion of awareness of STDs and transmission methods compared with their rural and less-educated counterparts. The data also indicated that 10% of the study sample admitted to having had sexual experiences. There were still a large proportion of the respondents who were not aware of STDs other than syphilis and HIV/AIDS and the means of transmission, such as multiple sex partners, including those who claimed to be sexually active. Thus there is a need for more concerted efforts to disseminate information on STDs and transmission methods to a wider audience in Malaysia, especially youths in rural areas.

Background Youth population (10-24 years of age) comprises more than 30% of the total population in Nepal. This is the age when values are formed, many become sexually active and begin to develop a pattern of risky sexual behaviour. This makes youth more vulnerable to contacting sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. The main objective of this study was to assess the sexual behavior among school youths of a rural far-western district, Achham, Nepal.Methods A cross sectional study was conducted among school youths aged 15 to 24 years studying at grade 11 and 12 in Achham district. Data were collected from February to April, 2011 using self-administered questionnaires from 229 boys and 156 girls of randomly selected eight higher secondary schools of the district.Results The study found that over a quarter of the respondents were sexually active before marriage, boys five times more compared to girls. More than one-fourth (28.2%) of sexually active young boys and girls were found to have engaged in multiple sexual relations; of which peers were the most common (71.1%) sexual partners. Overall, three out of every four sexually active school youths were found to have practised risky sexual behavior. The study found age of the respondent, gender, education and age at first sexual intercourse were significantly associated with the sexual behavior of the school youths.Conclusions Young people at schools were found to be engaged in unsafe sexual activities in study district. They were found initiating multiple sexual relations and pre-marital sexual relations. The use of condom was found declining in subsequent sexual contacts. Such risky sexual behaviours were putting the young population at more vulnerable to the risks of any sexually transmitted infections. Sex education would therefore be imperative to focus on sexual and reproductive health interventions targeted for the young people.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hprospect.v12i2.9873 Health Prospect Vol.12(2) 2013: 37-41

Although the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) decreased in the last decade worldwide, the number of deaths due to HIV/AIDS and communicable diseases including syphilis, hepatitis, and tuberculosis had dramatically increased in developing countries. Education and behavior are incredibly important factors to prevent these diseases’ spread. This study highlights the range of differences in knowledge, attitude, and behavior of 434 sexually active medical students towards HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Because the surveyed population constitutes the forefront of healthcare providers and was originated from different area of the world, this is the first time a study sought to investigate the behavioral attitude of this group of population irrespective of the three levels of their academic and professional knowledge. Several factors including sociodemographic characteristics, sexual behavior, HIV/AIDS, and STIs related patterns play a key role in medical student attitude and behavior towards people infected with HIV/AIDS and STIs. Our findings add consistent value in prior studies which aimed to stop new infections and also imply further investigations on the management of the studied infections by medical students. The present study arouses much interest among participants and provides evidence of reinforcing medical students’ education on HIV/AIDS and STIs.

Although China has had a rich sexual culture for thousands of years, Chinese people are usually unwilling to openly discuss issues of sex. Some parents are quite ignorant of the change in their children’s sexual attitude and behaviour. In China today, adolescents are becoming much more sexually liberated. Premarital sex and unplanned pregnancies among teenagers are increasing. Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) including HIV/AIDS are also spreading rapidly. However, young people lack basic information on AIDS/STD and do not know how to protect themselves from these diseases or how to avoid unintended pregnancies. Several major youth peer education programmes in China are mentioned in this paper. Among them, a four-year programme entitled the Australian–Chinese AIDS/STD/Safer Sex Peer Education Programme for Youth, is discussed in some detail. The programme has so far reached over 40000 university and school students. Evaluation results show that the programme is effective in both significantly increasing students’ knowledge about AIDS/STDs and changing their attitude towards AIDS patients. In addition, the programme is highly praised by the students.

A cross-sectional survey examined demographic characteristics, self-reported sexual behaviors, and knowledge of AIDS in samples of 106 homeless persons and 260 college students. As expected, the two samples differed with respect to age, gender, race, and education. Respondents in both samples possessed moderate knowledge of HIV infection and AIDS and reported they considered their personal risk of HIV infection low. Both samples acknowledged frequent use of alcohol with sexual activity, active and passive oral sex, and lax use of condoms. A discriminant analysis indicated that a greater percentage of college students were sexually active than of the homeless sample and that the homeless group had a higher proportion of individuals who were either homosexual or bisexual, who had sexual contact with multiple partners or who had visited a prostitute, who had sexually transmitted diseases, and who had injected drugs. Although the risk profiles differed, each group reported high-risk behaviors and perceptions of low personal risk of HIV infection.

This paper looked into the abuse of inhalable nitrites, mainly amyl nitrites, commonly known by the street name of poppers. This paper compiled several studies of nitrite inhalant abuse and the risk associated with the sexual practices that may concur. The paper explores first, the history and true intentions of nitrite inhalants, then the increasing abuse mainly within the homosexual community, and the legitimacy of the link of nitrites and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Various studies discussed in the paper will show that there is no legitimate link between poppers increasing the chance of HIV/AIDS but it is the unsafe sexual practices that occur with poppers that lead to various sexually transmitted diseases. The dangers of inhalable nitrites come from legal loopholes, use with other drugs such as Viagra, and the nature of unsafe sexual practices mostly within the homosexual community.

The worrying increase of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in Amsterdam was investigated in two studies carried out by the department of AIDS research of the municipal health service. The results indicate that the introduction of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapies (HAART) may have had an influence on the increase of STDs and risky sexual behaviours in Amsterdam.

Few data are currently available regarding the extent to which older people (defined here as those aged >50 years): i) are sexually active; ii) engage in `risky' sexual behaviours; and iii) contract sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). It was the primary aim of research described in this thesis to address these specific knowledge deficits and to ascertain whether the exclusion of this age group as a research focus within this subject field can be reasonably justified. The dearth of previous research undertaken in this area necessitated that a secondary goal be addressed, namely the development of methodologies appropriate to the collection from older people of data concerning such issues. Using a combination of self-administered questionnaire studies and secondary data analyses, undertaken both in health care settings and within the community at large, the programme of research clearly indicates that: 1. Older people represent a consistent minority of patients attending specialised genitourinary (GUM) clinics. Members of this group are further regularly diagnosed with STDs. Moreover, older clinic attenders exhibit distinctive socio-demographic and clinical characteristics relative both to younger clinic attenders and to the general population of the same age group. 2. The majority of older GUM clinic attenders are first time attenders and have not been diagnosed with an STD before 3. In the community at large the majority of older adults are sexually active, of whom a small minority (approximately 7%) engage in behaviours that place them at risk of contracting STDs. 4. Most older people, recruited from both health care and non-health care settings, feel that they have received very little information about STDs and HIV, and many indicated that they would like to receive more information on these topics.

This thesis examines aspects of the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the Australian community, with a particular emphasis on HIV/AIDS in the context of general practice (or primary care settings). The work has four broad aims: i) To describe the primary prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, following from the arrival of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Australia ii) To describe HIV/STD risk behaviour iii) To summarise previously known evidence of interventions to reduce risk and to raise awareness of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases iv) To contribute new evidence addressing the potential of the general practitioners' role in HIV/STD prevention The first chapter gives a brief review of the history of HIV/AIDS from its discovery in the United States of America to its appearance in Australia and New Zealand, and discusses the Australian response strategies, both initial and continuing, to confine the epidemic. Specifically, the arrival of HIV/AIDS gave rise to increasing awareness of sexually transmitted diseases, which hitherto, although sometimes chronic, were rarely fatal. The public health risk of HIV necessitated swift government action and led to wider acceptance of publicity about sexual behaviour. Although the thesis does not concentrate solely on HIV, this is still an emphasis. This chapter provides useful background to ensuing chapters. Chapter Two provides an overview of behavioural risk in sexually transmitted diseases. It gives a review of risk factor prevalence studies, and introduces risk behaviour and cognitive models of behaviour change, as applied to STD risk. Sexual behaviour is a complex social interaction, usually involving more than one person, and relying on the personality and behaviour patterns intrinsic to the individuals taking part. It is therefore perhaps more challenging to alter than behaviour which is undertaken alone, being dependent on the behaviour and intentions of both parties. Moreover, comprehensive assessment of sexual risk behaviour requires very detailed information about each incident. Its private nature makes accurate data difficult to obtain, and sexual risk behaviour is, correspondingly, difficult to measure. Chapter Three reviews the effectiveness of interventions tested in primary health care settings to reduce sexual risk behaviour. The candidate uses a replicable method to retrieve and critique studies, comparable with standards now required by the Cochrane Collaboration. From 22 studies discussed, nine health interventions were short, 'one-shot', efforts owing to limited time, resources and other practical constraints. This review demonstrates the scarcity of interventions with people who may be perceived as 'low-risk'. Only four interventions were carried out in community health centres and two in university health clinics. One of the university interventions showed no change in sexual behaviour in any of three arms of the intervention (Wenger, Greenberg et al 1992) while the other showed an increase in condom use in both groups, although the intervention group's self-efficacy and assertiveness also improved (Sikkema, Winett & Lombard 1995). The rationale for the intervention, where given, is described. Chapter Four analyses the content, format and quality of sexual health information brochures available in New South Wales at the time of the candidate's own planning for an interventional study. One of the most effective ways to disseminate information widely is by the use of educational literature, especially when the subject material is potentially sensitive or embarrassing to discuss in person. In this chapter, the candidate reviews the literature available at the time of designing the intervention used in Chapter Five. Readability, attractiveness, clarity and the accurate presentation of facts about sexually transmitted disease risk are examined for each pamphlet. Forty-seven pamphlets were scored according to the Flesch formula, and twenty-four of these scored in the 'fairly' to 'very difficult' range. There was, therefore, a paucity of easy-to-read material on these subjects. Chapter Five evaluates a general practitioner-based counselling intervention to raise awareness of sexually transmitted diseases and to modify HIV/STD risk behaviour. While adults aged 18-25 are less likely than older cohorts to have a regular general practitioner or to visit often, most people visit a general practitioner at least once a year. This could provide an opportunity for the general practitioner to raise preventive health issues, especially with infrequent attendees. As the effectiveness of an opportunistic intervention about sexual risk behaviour was yet to be tested, the candidate designed an innovative randomised controlled trial to raise awareness of risk and increase preventive behaviour. The participation rate was 90% and 76% consented to followup; however the attrition rate meant that overall only 52% of the original participants completed the follow-up questionnaire. The intervention proved easy and acceptable both to GPs and to patients, and risk perception had increased at three months' follow-up; however this occurred in both the control (odds ratio 2.6) and the intervention group, whose risk perception at baseline was higher (odds ratio 1.3). In order to establish some markers of risk in the general population, Chapter Six analyses data resulting from questions on sexual behaviour asked in the Central Sydney section of the NSW Health Survey. The candidate advocated for inclusion of relevant questions to determine some benchmarks of sexual risk behaviour and to provide an indication of condom use among heterosexuals. Although limited in scope as a result of competing priorities for questions in the survey, results demonstrate that, while a small percentage of people were at risk, those with higher levels of partner change or of alcohol use were the most likely to always use condoms. Specifically, 100% of those with more than four new partners in the last 12 months had used condoms with every new partner. In addition, 'heavy' alcohol users were more likely to report condom use every time with new partners (odds ratio 0.34). To furnish data to inform future planning of educational activities for general practitioners, Chapter Seven presents the results of a survey of Central Sydney general practitioners' opinions and current practices in HIV risk reduction with in the broader context of sexually transmitted disease prevention. The general practitioner is in an ideal position to provide information and advice, especially if future research affirms the impact of such advice on STD risk behaviour. General practitioners in this study said they would be slightly more likely to discuss sexual health matters with young patients than with older ones (p=0.091), but this was not significant. The most cited barrier to discussing sexual health was inadequate remuneration for taking time to do so (over 50% gave this reason). The next most cited obstacle was difficulty in raising the subject of STDs or HIV in routine consultations, but this reason was given by less than half the sample. Forty-six percent had participated in continuing medical education programs in STDs, HIV/AIDS, or hepatitis diagnosis or management; 32% of GPs had patients with HIV, and 55% of all GPs indicated they would like more training in management and continuity of care of HIV patients. Approximately half (51%) wanted more training in sexuality issues, including sexual dysfunction. Chapter Eight reviews the whole thesis and discusses future directions for the research agenda.

This study sought to establish gender perceptual differences and their effects on the implementation of Policy in the prevention of HIV/AIDS in Makoni District, Zimbabwe. The role of women as caregivers to HIV/AIDS sufferers is also highlighted and how this has deprived them towards social, political and economic development. The source of the data used was the World Health Organisation (WHO) project on Family Planning and AIDS. The sample of the study comprised of 100 men and women from Makoni District, Zimbabwe. In addition to the survey question, focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted. The FGD data complimented the survey results with qualitative information. The objectives of the study looked at people’s attitudes, cultural practices and sexual practices. These were analysed to determine how the gender issues within them affected the HIV/AIDS prevention strategies. The five major prevention strategies focused on in this study are: · promotion of condom use; · reduction of the number of sexual partners; · sticking to one sexual partner; · control and Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs); and · Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) for HIV to prevent vertical transmission of the disease. Although, the majority of the women indicated that it was acceptable for a married woman to ask her husband to use condoms, this was disputed by the findings from the FGDs. Issues of trust and fidelity were raised,but many men and women reported that they were not prepared to confront one another. The FGD results revealed that the men assert that it is normal for every man to have extra marital relationships, therefore they do not see anything wrong with it. It also came out that there are women who both have no income or partner to support them financially and are living in absolute poverty. These women, if anything, are more likely to increase the number of their sexual partners than reduce them so that they increase their economic base inorder to support their families. It has been established that for effective treatment and control of STDs, there is need for both partners to cooperate and seek treatment at the same time. However, the findings from this study revealed that lack of communication between sexual partners hampered the treatment of these diseases. On the other hand, the men indicated that talking to their wives about STDs would compel them to say where they got it. On the other hand the women reported that their men would accuse them of infidelity if they told them of an STD. FGD results however revealed that men and women were prepared to have HIV testing so that they would know of their status before planning a family. The gender perceptual differences on HIV/AIDS prevention have been identified as follows: · the need for male compliance to use condoms effectively; · the fear of losing trust by suggesting condom use; and · acceptance of male promiscuity by society that perpetuates that risky behaviour and exposure to HIV/AIDS infection and lack of communication between sexual partners, are a hindrance for effective control and treatment of STDs.

The purpose of the study was to show the variables that influence adolescents' sexual activities that have not been well defined. What leads adolescents to be more sexually active than previous generations? A Survey was conducted at the Fontana Unified School District.

This study involves an analysis of accounts of first and subsequent early sexual experiences in a deep rural area of the Eastern Cape in South Africa over the last forty years. Through interviews and focus group discussions, the enculturation of youth into sexual activity in the community of interest is explored. The study looks into sexual experiences from childhood, through early adolescence to adults of up to sixty five years old, allowing an analysis of the changing forms of sexual experimentation and sexual debut in this context. Contextual factors mediating these changes are explored, with special emphasis on the changing regulatory practices around early sexual experiences and the effect thereof on behaviors connected to HIV infection risk. Practices that were previously important mediators of sexual behavior were: anxiety about the social consequences of pregnancy, which was previously a significant disincentive to sexual intercourse; men's previous acceptance of the need to practice non-penetrative forms of sex and girls postponing sexual debut for as long as possible. All these were culturally endorsed, but are now noted to have changed due to changes in the regulatory practices surrounding youth sexuality. The context of early sexual experiences and the surrounding cultural practices have also changed significantly, and this needs to be taken into account in understanding receptivity to condom use messages. Implications for HIV/AIDS prevention are discussed. Among other interventions, the study describes a participatory, community-based, multi-sectoral approach that takes social conditions into account as a way of empowering the community to strengthen its response to the pandemic. This incorporates different sectors of the community, including youth, parents, religious and traditional leaders, and various other structures, services and institutions that make up the community.

This study investigated influence strategies used by university students to negotiate condom use. The study examined the seven condom influence strategies (CISs) -withholding sex, direct request, seduction, relationship conceptualizing, risk information, deception, and pregnancy prevention- used by heterosexually active male and female students. The sample comprised of 156 first year students (male=44 and female=112). Statistically significant correlations were found among all the condom influence strategies subscales. Results suggest that the university students influence their partners in all identified condom influence strategies and the risk information strategy holds the most promise of all the strategies.

Contemporary Christian/secular/social trends and beliefs about religion, the rights of women, and the privacy of their bodies have been used to challenge the Dangme people of Ghana's continued adherence to the Dipo puberty rite. Without judging the Dipo rite but focusing on its intended value systems, this research argues that contemporary societal problems can harness the beneficial qualities of various traditional rituals to help solve specific societal issues. This chapter sets out to explore how the value systems of a contested puberty rite like the Dangme people's Dipo can help address sexual health issues prevalent in the Dangme communities. This chapter discusses how repurposing of Dipo's existing educational platform and value systems can contribute to the eradication or reduction of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic among members of the Dangme tribes.

Neuropsychiatric disturbances stemming from infectious diseases are widespread in both the industrialized world and developing countries. Such neuropsychiatric syndromes are not necessarily the result of infectious processes directly involving the central nervous system, they may also be complications of systemic infections. There are many microbial, viral, and parasitic agents, as well as other types of infectious substances, which can affect the central nervous system, leading to the appearance of neurological and psychiatric symptoms that may cause suffering to the patient, and even be disabling. When considering the psychiatric manifestations of infectious illness, it is important to consider clinical manifestations derived from a possible systemic infection, which can be less obvious than a direct involvement of the central nervous system. Acute organic reactions may accompany many systemic infections, especially at the extremes of life. A clear example is the delirium that frequently occurs with pneumonia in the elderly. In these clinical syndromes, several factors could be responsible for the alterations in cerebral metabolism. The mere fact of having a fever could be involved. Cerebral anoxia often appears to be responsible, or the influence of toxins derived from the infecting micro-organism. More complex metabolic disturbances or the accumulation of toxic intermediate products can also be -implicated. Likewise, infections that course as chronic or subacute illnesses are frequently accompanied by the onset of depressive syndromes. One of the factors implied in clinical depression that occurs within the context of systemic infectious illnesses (e.g. tuberculosis and infectious mononucleosis), is a sense of physical vulnerability, possibly heightened by a loss of strength and negative changes in the patient's appearance. Patients are often afraid of losing their earning capacity or even their jobs, as well as other social and occupational problems associated with the illness. Another very important factor, above all with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted disease (STD), is the social stigma that these patients may suffer. Sexually transmitted disease infection implies sexual activity that historically carries connotations of illicit, casual, sexual encounters, and acquiring an STD is frequently associated with embarrassment and social stigma. In addition to the disease itself, the medications commonly used to treat infectious illnesses can have side-effects that alter patients’ behaviour, as well as their cognitive and affective functioning (Table 5.3.5.1). In this chapter we consider infections of clinical interest in the practice of psychiatry. These conditions will be dealt with briefly, and textbooks of general medicine should be consulted for further details. Prion diseases and chronic fatigue syndromes, which are also related to the subject of the present chapter, are discussed in Chapters 4.1.4 and 5.2.7, respectively.