title: Analysis of cognitive variables and sexual risk behaviors among infected and HIV-uninfected people from Spain.
abstract: The wider availability of anti-retroviral treatment has brought about an improvement in the immunological situation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals, which in turn has led to significant reductions in AIDS-related morbidity and mortality and better quality of life for patients. However, the rate of diagnosis of new cases of HIV among the adult population is on the increase due to high-risk sexual behavior practices, particularly not using condoms, sexual relations with a large number of partners and starting sexual relations at a younger age, with unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. For this reason, public health managers have invested considerable effort in recent years in creating STI and HIV prevention programs. Yet, in spite of the implementation of measures for reducing the rates of infection, few studies have been published in Spain comparing individuals living with HIV with the general population about cognitive variables and the link between these variables and high-risk sexual behavior. The objective was to compare a group of individuals living with HIV with another group from the general population in terms of cognitive variables (knowledge about STIs and HIV, concern about STI/HIV and pregnancy, self-efficacy to refuse sexual relations and resilience) and sexual behavior. The sample consisted of 318 adults, 159 were from the general population and 159 were individuals living with HIV. Individuals living with HIV had higher scores for concern about HIV/AIDS, STIs, pregnancy and knowledge of STI/HIV compared with the general population. We concluded that uninfected people who had low and high level of concern about HIV/AIDS began having anal sex at a younger age than those with a medium level of concern. Overall, results indicate that the concern about HIV/AIDS should be addressed in preventive health interventions to minimize the risks of sexual behavior.
authors.affiliation: a Mind Brain and Behavior (Spanish acronym CIMCYC) Research Center, University of Granada , Granada , Spain.
authors.forename: María de la Paz
authors.initials: Mde L
authors.lastname: Bermúdez
authors.affiliation: b Departamento de Psicologia (Campus Ministro Reis Velloso) , Universidade Federal do Piauí , Parnaíba/PI , Brasil.
authors.forename: Ludgleydson Fernandes de
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: a Mind Brain and Behavior (Spanish acronym CIMCYC) Research Center, University of Granada , Granada , Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio Ortega
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.affiliation: c Faculty of Medicine , San Cecilio University Hospital, University of Granada , Granada , Spain.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernández-Quero
authors.affiliation: a Mind Brain and Behavior (Spanish acronym CIMCYC) Research Center, University of Granada , Granada , Spain.
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Teva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011788:Quality of Life; D012309:Risk-Taking; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Sexual behavior; concern; knowledge of STI/HIV; resilience; self-efficacy