Abstract
This study estimated the rate and correlates of recent unprotected sex among sexually active psychiatric patients in Brazil, stratified by gender. The prevalence of unprotected sex among women and men were 89% and 77%, respectively. Significant correlates with unprotected sex were: being married/in union, living with children/partner, and cigarette smoking in both genders; lower income, depression and anxiety diagnoses among men only; older age, no previous HIV testing, sex under the influence of alcohol/drugs, and verbal violence among women only. Interventions to reduce risk behavior among psychiatric patients in Brazil are urgent and should take into account gender differences.
Highlights
Adults with severe mental illnesses are at increased risk of HIV infection with higher rates of unprotected sex as compared to the general population [1,2,3]
There is evidence that rates of unprotected sex are higher among women than men – respectively, 56% and 43% of patients with severe mental illnesses in the last three months in the USA 4; 82% and 65% in the last year among patients with severe mental illnesses in the USA 5; and 84% and 77% among patients with chronic mental illness in Brazil during lifetime 6
Not statistically significant differences were seen between participants and nonparticipants regarding age, gender, schooling, or psychiatric diagnosis (p > 0.05) 16
Summary
There is evidence that rates of unprotected sex are higher among women than men – respectively, 56% and 43% of patients with severe mental illnesses in the last three months in the USA 4; 82% and 65% in the last year among patients with severe mental illnesses in the USA 5; and 84% and 77% among patients with chronic mental illness in Brazil during lifetime 6 These differences are consistent among women and men in the general population – respectively, 78% and 72% among Brazilians 15 to 64 years old in the last year 2; and 46% and 33% among students in the USA at last sexual intercourse 7. In that report we used lifetime time-frame and considered those abstinent as safe sex
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