HIV-related sexual risk behaviour in HIV-positive African migrants in the UK: the Padare Study

• Published in: International journal of STD & AIDS 2004-05, Vol.15, p.40
• Main Authors: Davidson, Oliver, Chinouya, Martha, Ndawula, Lillian, Sesay, Max
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Human immunodeficiency virus
• ISSN: 0956-4624; 1758-1052

While there is growing data on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviour from African migrant communities in the UK (e.g. Mayisha) there is little KAB data available from HIV-positive Africans. Such data is crucial in the development of primary and secondary prevention initiatives. The Padare project aimed to develop the methodology and collect data from a sample of HIV-positive people from the African communities who access medical and social support services. A 77-item self-report questionnaire was distributed within two HIV clinics and seven HIV support agencies in a large inner city area. Question domains covered demographics, HIV knowledge and attitudes, sexual behaviour, service use, disclosure, sexually transmitted infections, reproduction, discrimination and sexual dysfunction. A total of 214 HIV-positive participants returned questionnaires. Women made up 73% of the sample. Of the 74% of the respondents who reported penetrative sex in the previous month, 40% reported either occasional or no condom use. Sixty-one per cent reported having had unprotected sex with one or more partners in the previous year. Forty-five per cent of the sexually active participants who had been told they had resistance reported inconsistent or no condom use in the previous month. Twenty per cent of the men and 5% of the women reported same-sex partners. This sample of HIV-positive African migrants report significant levels of risk behaviour and misinformation regarding HIV and its treatment. However, these trends must be seen in the light of risk behaviour data from other samples of HIV-positive people (e.g. gay men in the SHARP study) and in relation to general community data (e.g. NATSAL and Mayisha).