Relation between HIV status, risky sexual behavior, and mental health in an MSM sample from three Chilean cities

Gómez, Fabiola; Barrientos, Jaime; Cárdenas, Manuel

Relation between HIV status, risky sexual behavior, and mental health in an MSM sample from three Chilean cities
Relación entre el estado de seropositividad al VIH, el comportamiento sexual arriesgado y la salud men¬tal en una muestra de HSH de tres ciudades chilenas

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Gómez, F., Barrientos, J., & Cárdenas, M. (2017). Relation between HIV status, risky sexual behavior, and mental health in an MSM sample from three Chilean cities [Journal articles]. https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/33834

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Date

2017

Authors

Gómez, Fabiola
Barrientos, Jaime
Cárdenas, Manuel

Description

Objective. To explore the association among HIV status; negative psychological symptoms (anxiety, depression, and hostility); and risky sexual behaviors (multiple sexual partners and unprotected sexual intercourse) in a Chilean sample of men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods. This study had a cross-sectional design and a sample of 325 MSM whose ages ranged from 18 to 64 years (mean: 30.8; standard deviation: 9.8). Association tests (chisquared) and group mean comparisons (Student’s t-tests and F-tests) were performed. Results. No statistically significant differences were found for condom use or for the number of sexual partners between HIV-positive men and those who are not infected. In both groups, about 50% reported sexual encounters without condom use in the past six months. There were statistically significant differences in symptoms associated with depression between the two groups. Conclusions. These results reveal the need to strengthen messages about the importance of condom use, as the only way to prevent HIV, and as a means of preventing HIV infection and reinfection, in national prevention and self-care programs for sexually active subjects. More studies are needed in Latin America to advance HIV prevention efforts for the MSM population. The data generated by this study can be used to inform the development of HIV prevention programming strategies and interventions targeting the MSM population in Latin America.

Objetivo. Explorar la relación entre el estado con respecto a la infección por el VIH, los síntomas psicológicos negativos (ansiedad, depresión y hostilidad) y el comportamiento sexual arriesgado (varios compañeros sexuales y relaciones sexuales sin protección) en una muestra de hombres que tienen relaciones sexuales con otros hombres (HSH) de Chile. Métodos. Este estudio tuvo un diseño transversal y una muestra de 325 HSH de 18 a 64 años (media: 30,8; desviación estándar: 9,8). Se efectuaron pruebas de asociación (ji al cuadrado) y comparaciones entre las medias grupales (prueba de la t de Student y prueba F). Resultados. No se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas respecto del uso de preservativos o del número de compañeros sexuales entre los hombres seropositivos al VIH y los no infectados. En los dos grupos, más del 50 % refirió que había tenido algún encuentro sexual sin protección en los seis meses anteriores. Se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los dos grupos en cuanto a los síntomas asociados a la depresión. Conclusiones. Estos resultados muestran la necesidad de fortalecer los mensajes acerca de la importancia del uso de preservativos como la única manera de prevenir el VIH y como un medio de prevenir la infección y la reinfección por este virus, en los programas nacionales de prevención y autocuidado destinados a las personas sexualmente activas. Es necesario efectuar más estudios en América Latina para impulsar las medidas de prevención de la infección por el VIH orientadas a la población de HSH. Los datos generados por este estudio pueden servir para formular estrategias programáticas de prevención e intervenciones dirigidas a esta población en América Latina.

Citation

Gómez F, Barrientos J, Cárdenas M. Relation between HIV status, risky sexual behavior, and mental health in an MSM sample from three Chilean cities. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2017;41:e4.

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Pan American Journal of Public Health

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