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Sexual Difficulties in People Living with HIV in France—Results from a Large Representative Sample of Outpatients Attending French Hospitals (ANRS-EN12-VESPA)

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Abstract

We analysed sexual difficulties in a nationally representative sample of HIV-infected outpatients in France. Analyses were restricted to the 1,812 HIV-treated participants who reported at least one sexual partner during the 12 months prior to the study. The sample included 40.6% homosexual men and 24.4% women; 68.1% had a steady partner and 48.2% reported casual partners. Sexual difficulties were reported by 33.3% of the selected individuals and were more frequent in those with low sexual activity. Immuno-virological outcomes were not associated with sexual difficulties. After multiple adjustment for sexual frequency and antidepressant consumption, it was found that a larger HIV-network, reporting HIV-discrimination from friends and/or sexual partners, suffering from lipodystrophy and reporting very disturbing HIV-related symptoms were all significantly associated with sexual difficulties. HIV and HIV-treatment experience are associated with sexual difficulties. Psychological support focused on HIV-experience should be tested as a possible tool for improving sexual quality of life.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the French National Agency for AIDS Research (ANRS, France).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health and Medical Research National Institute (INSERM), Research Unit 379, Social Sciences Applied to Medical Innovation, Institut Paoli Calmettes, Marseilles, France

    Anne-Déborah Bouhnik, Marie Préau, Yolande Obadia & Bruno Spire

  2. Southeastern Health Regional Observatory (ORSPACA), Marseilles, France

    Anne-Déborah Bouhnik, Marie Préau, Yolande Obadia & Bruno Spire

  3. Psychology Department, LABECD, Nantes, France

    Marie Préau

  4. National Centre of Scientific Research (CAMS-CERMES-CNRS-EHESS), Paris, France

    Marie-Ange Schiltz

Authors
  1. Anne-Déborah Bouhnik
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  2. Marie Préau
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  3. Marie-Ange Schiltz
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  4. Yolande Obadia
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  5. Bruno Spire
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and the VESPA study group

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Correspondence to Anne-Déborah Bouhnik.

Additional information

The VESPA study group includes: A.D. Bouhnik (INSERM U379/ORS PACA), R. Dray-Spira (INSERM U88), J. Fagnani (CNRS-UMR Matisse), I. Heard (INSERM U430), F. Lert (INSERM U88), Y. Obadia (ORS PACA/INSERM U379), P. Peretti-Watel (ORS PACA/INSERM U379), J. Pierret (CERMES-INSERM U504-UMR 8559), B. Riandey (INED), M.A. Schiltz (CERMES-INSERM U504-UMR 8559), R. Sitta (INSERM U88) and B. Spire (INSERM U379/ORSPACA).

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Bouhnik, AD., Préau, M., Schiltz, MA. et al. Sexual Difficulties in People Living with HIV in France—Results from a Large Representative Sample of Outpatients Attending French Hospitals (ANRS-EN12-VESPA). AIDS Behav 12, 670–676 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-007-9355-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-007-9355-z

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