Trends in HIV sexual prevention: Attitudinal beliefs and behavioral intention in Spanish young people over the past two decades (1999–2020)

Despite preventive efforts, HIV exposure is still a concern for public health. The current prevalence is related to unsafe sex, which is based on socio-cognitive variables. Therefore, information about these variables is required to verify whether the past preventive strategies have been effective and improve the future ones. However, there is not updated information to adjust future preventive interventions. For this reason, this study analyzes trends by gender in Spanish young people over the past two decades in perceived susceptibility to HIV, severity perceived to HIV, condom confidence and the intention of condom use, from 1999 to 2020. For this purpose, 11,665 Spanish young people (from 17 to 40 years old) completed the AIDS Prevention Questionnaire in each year. Following our results, in general, the socio-cognitive variables have revealed an unsatisfactory trend: a low perceived susceptibility to HIV and a behavioral intention that have remained stable or even declined slightly over the past years. Particularly, men are more likely to report a riskier level in socio-cognitive variables although, in the latest evaluations, women would decrease condom use intention largely than men. In general, regarding age, young adult would report better levels of condom confidence, but early youth would get higher results in perceived severity, as well as better scores in the latest evaluations of condom use intention. Considering these results, policies should make an effort in HIV prevention programs, and emphasize the attention to attitudinal beliefs and behavioral intention to improve their effectiveness.     

Effect of a Condom Cover on Vaginal Photoplethysmographic Responses

IntroductionThe vaginal photoplethysmograph (VPP) is a reusable intravaginal device often employed in sexual psychophysiology studies to assess changes in vaginal blood flow, an indicator of sexual arousal.AimTo test whether placing a disposable cover on the VPP probe impacts the acquired data. A condom cover would reduce risk of disease transmission and likely increase participant comfort but may negatively impact the VPP signal.MethodThe genital responses of 25 cisgender women (mean age = 21.3 years, standard deviation = 2.6) were assessed with VPP in a within-subjects design with 2 conditions—with and without a polyisoprene condom cover. Sexual responses were elicited by audiovisual film clips that varied in erotic intensity: nonsexual (nonsexual male-female interaction), low-intensity sexual (nude exercise), and high-intensity sexual (male-female intercourse). Women continuously rated their sexual arousal during stimulus presentations.Main Outcome MeasureChange in vaginal pulse amplitude and also self-reported sexual arousal.ResultsThe magnitude of sexual response to each stimulus category and the overall pattern of results were found to be highly similar in the cover-off and cover-on conditions. The high-intensity sexual stimulus category elicited a greater sexual response than all other categories. The low-intensity sexual category elicited a (small) genital response in only the cover-on condition, although we suspect this is a spurious finding. There was no difference in the average number of edited movement artifacts across conditions.Clinical ImplicationsPotential benefits of encasing the VPP probe with a protective cover include enhanced participant safety and comfort, especially if assessing genital responses of high-risk or immunocompromised samples. The use of a cover complies with current guidelines for reprocessing semi-critical medical devices (eg, vaginal ultrasound probes) in many regions.Strengths & LimitationsAlthough the idea of a VPP probe cover had been discussed among sexual psychophysiology researchers, this is the first study to empirically test whether a cover could jeopardize VPP data. Potential limitations include the use of a 10-Hz VPP sampling rate and a cover that was not tailored to the size of the VPP probe.ConclusionPlacing a protective cover on the VPP probe did not appear to meaningfully impact sexual arousal or the VPP data. Based on these results and the potential advantages of a protective cover, researchers may wish to integrate the use a condom cover in their experiment protocols and clinical applications.Sawatsky ML, Lalumière ML. Effect of a Condom Cover on Vaginal Photoplethysmographic Responses. J Sex Med 2020; 17:702–715.     

Correlates of Condom Use among Sex Workers and Their Boyfriends in Three West African Countries

The aim of this study was to identify correlates associated with condom use at last intercourse between sex workers (SW) and their boyfriends (BF). The sample was derived as a convenience sample recruited through existing HIV prevention organizations in Benin, Guinea and Senegal. The Theory of Planned Behavior served as the conceptual framework. A total of 406 individuals (220 SW and 186 BF) participated in the study. Socio-demographic, behavioral and psychological variables were collected through a face-to-face administered questionnaire. Condom use at last intercourse was significantly associated with intention and perceived control among SW as well as their BF. With respect to intention, perceived control, attitude and moral norm explained 82 and 74% of intention of SW and BF, respectively. These results suggest that promoting condom use among SW and BF should be based primarily on the development of personal ability to overcome obstacles to condom use.     

Avoidance,Anxiety, and Sex: The Influence of Romantic Attachment on HIV-Risk among Pregnant Women

Most unprotected sex occurs in close relationships. However, few studies examine relational factors and sexual risk among high-risk populations. Romantic Attachment Theory states that individuals have cognitive working models for relationships that influence expectations, affect, and behavior. We investigated the influence of attachment avoidance and anxiety on sexual beliefs (e.g., condom use beliefs, self-efficacy), behavior (e.g., condom use, multiple partners, unprotected sex with risky partners), and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among 755 high-risk, young pregnant women (ages 14a€“25) recruited from urban prenatal clinics. Attachment anxiety predicted sexual beliefs, condom use, and unprotected sex with risky partners controlling for demographic variables. Sexual beliefs did not mediate the relationship between attachment orientation and sexual behavior. Current relationship with the father of the baby did mediate the effect of attachment anxiety on multiple partners and STIs. Results indicate the importance of including general relational factors, such as attachment, in HIV prevention.     

曲靖市男男性行为人群安全套使用影响因素分析

目的分析曲靖市MSM安全套使用的影响因素。方法 2010~2013年,采用滚雪球的抽样方法对招募的MSM开展行为学问卷调查。结果共调查400人,最近6个月MSM同性肛交、同性商业性行为和异性性行为发生率分别为100%、5.0%~0、23.0%~13.0%;相应的安全套坚持使用率分别为33.0%~83.0%、20.0%~50.0%、9.5%~69.0%;非条件Logistic回归分析显示,样本来源于网络招募(OR=23.228,95%CI:5.279~102.208)、接受干预服务(OR=13.255,95%CI:2.958~59.394)这2个因素是MSM安全套使用的促进因素;而本地居住1年或以上(OR=0.200,95%CI:0.037~0.172)是MSM不使用安全套的危险因素。结论 MSM高危性行为比较普遍,但安全套使用率低,应该充分利用网络平台加强艾滋病健康教育,尤其是加强在本地居住1年及以上的MSM的干预,提高安全套使用率。     

Pattern,challenges and correlates of condom use among Nigerians living with HIV infection.

ObjectiveTo determine the pattern, challenges and correlates of condom use among Nigerians living with HIV Infection.MethodsA cross sectional questionnaire study among HIV positive adults attending an HIV treatment centre in Lagos, Nigeria. Data entry and analysis were done with Epi-info version 3.5.1.ResultsThe mean age of respondents was 35 (SD=7.7; range: 17–58 years) and mean age at sexual debut was 20 years old (range: 7–37 years). Majority were women (66.6%), had at least secondary school education(91.1%), married (68.2%)), on ART (50.7%) and knew their partners HIV status(60.9%). The rate of condom use at last sex act was 65.9%, but only 48.8% used condom consistently. Factors associated with condom use were male gender (OR=2.43, CI=1.35–4.33, P=0.002), less than secondary school education (OR=3.12, CI=1.04–9.28, P=0.05) and Not knowing partner's HIV status (OR=1.90, CI=1.04–3.80, P=0.04). Refusal to use condom (28.4%) were as a result of pregnancy intention, undesirability of condom in marriage and decreased sexual pleasure.ConclusionThere is low consistent condom use rate of 48.8% among this cohort despite their exposure to behavioural change messages. A review of the present counselling strategy and combination prevention is therefore advocated.     

The Integration of Sexuality Into Alcholism Treatment

Sexuality is usually ignored in alcoholism treatment programs, but it is often an issue about which patients are secretly very concerned. While timing of more detailed discussion about sexual issues should often be postponed until sobriety is well established, there are diagnostic issues which need to be addressed. Information about the role sexual conflicts may have played in the alcoholism are important to determine. Information about sexuality needs to be given to pateints in alcoholism treatment programs. A sample educational lecture based on a review of the literature on alcoholism and sexuality is given.     

在性病门诊促进安全性行为的有利条件和障碍因素——18个性病门诊的经验

目的 探讨在性病门诊开展咨询和推广避孕套的影响因素。方法 对上海市18个性病门诊的18名医生进行了2个集中小组访谈。结果 揭示了有利条件和障碍因素。绝大多数医生(14/18)认为有必要在性病门诊发放避孕套。所有医生一致认为性病门诊是推广避孕套使用的最佳场所,但至今尚未找到发放避孕套的最佳模式,主要原因是政策上不允许将避孕套列为处方内容或在公立门诊出售避孕套,而免费发放又缺乏经费。所有性病门诊医生都意识到咨询的重要性和必要性,然而大多数门诊尚未开展正规的咨询,主要障碍是医生认为没有时间,门诊认为没有效益。结论 (1)卫生部门应从政策上支持建立提供整合性病服务的示范门诊;(2)取消在医院或门诊内销售避孕套的限制,将避孕套列入性病门诊特需和合法的处方项目,并同计生部门协商解决避孕套的免费发放或鼓励社会市场营销活动以保证社区内避孕套的持续供应。(3)为保证能充分提供有关性病的咨询,公立性病门诊应将咨询纳入性病常规服务的范围,培训中级人员专职负责提供咨询服务。     

商业性性接触中避孕套使用频率及影响因素调查

对劳教所收容的１５８名卖淫女和就诊于性病门诊的１６９名嫖客在商业性性接触中避孕套使用频率及影响因素进行了调查。结果显示卖淫女和嫖客在商业性性接触中经常使用避孕套的频率分别为５０．６％和２０．７％。影响卖淫女经常使用避孕套的最主要因素是避孕措施，而与嫖客从不使用避孕套相关因素是嫖娼次数