Psychological sexuality features in people living with HIV with the presence and the lack of substance use

Abstract

Psychological sexuality features in people living with HIV with and without substance use as a determinant of the HIV epidemic growth were explored. The study involved 136 respondents (2 groups of 50 people with different infection routes: blood-borne infection route and heterosexual transmission; 36 individuals without HIV). The following research methods were used: a specially developed clinical map, an original authors questionnaire Infection risk and the disease situation (allows to register the main characteristics of the life situation of the disease), the incomplete sentences test of Sachs Levy, Freiburgh Personality Inventory, I-structure Ammon test. Data processing included the Fisher criterion (Fisher angular transformation), ANOVA, content analysis. Significant negative effects in sexual sphere related to gender and the presence of HIV were revealed in the study. It has been established that people living with HIV with and without substance use differ in the frequency of concealment of HIV status and the presence of destructive type of sexuality. It has been established that people living with HIV and healthy respondents differ in the frequency of unrealistic way of thinking regarding opposite sex. A frequent occurrence of negatively colored attitude towards opposite sex and positively colored attitude towards sexual relations was noted in all groups. The results of the study determine the need for timely preventive measures in all population groups and psychocorrectional measures among people living with HIV, which will allow to prevent an increase in the number of children and adolescents with HIV. Psychological sexuality features in people living with HIV in the Russian sample were studied for the first time. The results are partially confirmed in foreign literature.