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Sexual Behavior of Older Adults Living with HIV in Uganda

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Abstract

Sexual behavior among older adults with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa has been understudied despite the burgeoning of this population. We examined sexual behavior among older adults living with HIV in Uganda. Participants were eligible for the study if they were 50 years of age or older and living with HIV. Quantitative data were collected through face-to-face interviews, including demographic characteristics, health, sexual behavior and function, and mental health. Of respondents, 42 were men and 59 women. More than one-quarter of these HIV-positive older adults were sexually active. A greater proportion of older HIV-positive men reported being sexually active compared to women (54 vs. 15 %). Among those who are sexually active, a majority never use condoms. Sixty-one percent of men regarded sex as at least somewhat important (42 %), while few women shared this opinion (20 %). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that odds of sexual activity in the past year were significantly increased by the availability of a partner (married/cohabitating), better physical functioning, and male gender. As more adults live longer with HIV, it is critical to understand their sexual behavior and related psychosocial variables in order to improve prevention efforts.

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Acknowledgments

The work was supported by funding from the UK BIG Lottery Fund through HelpAge International. The research team thanks them for their support. We acknowledge the contributions of Bessie Kalina, Haji Bayiye Musoke, Grace Tumwekwase, Elizabeth Kabunga, Joyce Mayinja, Winfred Nalukenge, and Richard Muhumuza with data collection; Sebastian Owilla with data management; and Saadiq Jawill Bey for data cleaning and database preparation. We are grateful to all the participants for giving us their time and information.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Edward Ford Building (A27), Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia

    Joel Negin & Louise Geddes

  2. MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda

    Louise Geddes, Monica Kuteesa & Janet Seeley

  3. ACRIA, New York, NY, USA

    Mark Brennan-Ing & Stephen Karpiak

  4. New York University College of Nursing, New York, NY, USA

    Mark Brennan-Ing & Stephen Karpiak

Authors
  1. Joel Negin
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  2. Louise Geddes
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  3. Mark Brennan-Ing
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  4. Monica Kuteesa
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  5. Stephen Karpiak
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  6. Janet Seeley
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Correspondence to Joel Negin.

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Negin, J., Geddes, L., Brennan-Ing, M. et al. Sexual Behavior of Older Adults Living with HIV in Uganda. Arch Sex Behav 45, 441–449 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-015-0582-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-015-0582-5

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