Mirror, mirror on the wall: the face of HIV + women in Europe today

• Published in: AIDS Care (Print) 2010-08, Vol.22 (8), p.919-926
• Main Authors: Nöstlinger, C., Nideröst, S., Woo, R., Platteau, T., Loos, J., Colebunders, R., The Swiss HIV Cohort Study, The Eurosupport 5 Study Group
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; AIDS; AIDS/HIV; Biological and medical sciences; Childbearing; condom use; Condoms; Cross-Sectional Studies; Europe; Europe - epidemiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health status; HIV; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - prevention & control; HIV Seropositivity - epidemiology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Mental health; Middle Aged; Personality. Affectivity; Pregnancy; Prevention; Prevention. Health policy. Planification; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Reproductive health; Selfassessment; sexual and reproductive health; Sexual Behavior; Sexual health; Sexuality. Sexual behavior; Social psychiatry. Ethnopsychiatry; Surveys and Questionnaires; Unmet needs; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Women; Womens health; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0954-0121; 1360-0451
• DOI: 10.1080/09540121003758564

Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and rights are important components of quality of life. This cross-sectional study describes HIV-positive women's SRH aspirations and needs and the predictive value of selected SRH factors on condom use with steady sexual partners. Data were collected in a European multi-centre study in 17 HIV centres in 14 European countries by a standardised anonymous self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical regression analysis were carried out and qualitative data from related formative research illustrated the findings. Among 387 HIV-positive women, 57% had children and 35% had become pregnant since their HIV-diagnosis. Contraceptive needs were largely unmet: 14% had undergone a pregnancy termination. About 83% changed their sexual behaviour after HIV-diagnosis in some ways. Sixty-two percent had at least one sexual encounter with a steady partner during the past six months and 51% used condoms consistently. Significant correlations with condom use were identified for childbearing since HIV-diagnosis (r=−0.21, p