Brief Report: Depression, Substance Use, and Factors Associated With Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Adults Living With HIV in the Asia-Pacific Region

Abstract

Background: Mental health and substance use disorders are common among people living with HIV and are associated with high-risk sexual behaviors, such as unprotected sex and multiple sexual partners, but Asia-Pacific data are limited. Methods: Adults living with HIV in care at 5 Asia-Pacific HIV clinics were enrolled at routine clinic visits between July 2019 and June 2020. Depression, substance use, sexual practice, and sociodemographic data were collected using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test, and a study-specific questionnaire. Clinical data were accessed from medical records. Risk factors for medium- to high-risk sexual practices, defined based on total scores from the sexual practice questionnaire assessing number of sexual partners and condom use, were analyzed using logistic regression. Moderate-to-severe depression was defined as a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score >9 and moderate- to high-risk substance use as an Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test score ≥11 for alcohol or ≥4 for other substances. Results: Among 723 participants, the median age was 38 years, 89% were men, 99% were on antiretroviral therapy and 37% had medium- to high-risk sexual practices. Medium- to high-risk sexual practices were more common among those ≤30 years old, unemployed, and those with HIV status disclosed and were more likely in participants with moderate-to-severe depression (aOR 2.09, 95% CI: 1.17 to 3.74) compared with none-to-minimal depression, and moderate- to high-risk substance use (aOR 1.73, 95% CI: 1.23 to 2.44) compared with those without. Conclusions: Further integration of comprehensive sexual risk reduction strategies, mental health services, and substance use harm reduction within HIV clinical settings in the region is needed.