title: Sexual difficulties in people living with HIV in France--results from a large representative sample of outpatients attending French hospitals (ANRS-EN12-VESPA).
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.
authors.affiliation: Health and Medical Research National Institute (INSERM), Research Unit 379, Social Sciences Applied to Medical Innovation, Institut Paoli Calmettes, Marseilles, France. bouhnik@marseille.inserm.fr
authors.forename: Anne-Déborah
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Bouhnik
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Préau
authors.forename: Marie-Ange
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schiltz
authors.forename: Yolande
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Obadia
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Spire
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011584:Psychology; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012747:Sexual Partners