The relationship between HAART use and sexual activity among HIV-positive women of reproductive age in Brazil, South Africa, and Uganda

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether current HAART use is associated with recent sexual intercourse among HIV-infected women (18–49 years) from Brazil, South Africa and Uganda. We conducted an analysis of survey data from a cross-sectional study, which enrolled 179 HIV-infected women receiving regular care from the Mbarara Hospital HIV Clinic in Uganda (n=85); the Perinatal HIV Research Unit in Soweto, South Africa (n=50); and the IPEC-Fiocruz cohort in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (n=44). The primary outcome was sexual intercourse in the previous month. Secondary outcomes were protected sex and contraceptive use. We found that overall, 46% reported recent sexual intercourse. After adjusting for covariates, recent sexual intercourse was not associated with HAART use (AOR: 0.76; 95%CI: 0.34–1.72); however, it was significantly associated with being currently married, wanting to have more children and having higher HAART optimism. Among women reporting recent sexual intercourse (n=83), HAART users were significantly more likely to practice protected sex (crude OR: 3.64; 95%CI: 1.41–9.38) and non-significantly more likely to use contraceptive methods (crude OR: 2.15; 95%CI: 0.77–5.99). In summary, self-reported recent sexual intercourse is not more likely among women on HAART. Moreover, sexually active HAART users may be more likely to practice protected sex and use contraceptives.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the research and clinical staff at the Mbarara Hospital HIV Clinic, the University of Science and Technology, the Perinatal HIV Research Unit in Soweto and the IPEC-FIOCRUZ cohort in Rio de Janeiro for their assistance with this research. Funding and support was provided by NIMH 54907, AA015287, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Ford Foundation (Brazil office) and FIOCRUZ.