Рsychosexual needs and sexual behavior of adolescents living with HIV since infancy

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The first generation of children living with HIV since their infancy are growing up and create a new unique group of patients at AIDS Center. Young adults living all their life with chronicle disease that is stigmatized by the society especially in connection with sexuality, have same sexual and reproductive needs and rights as their HIV-negative peers. Aim of this study was to investigate attitudes, needs and social norms toward reproductive and sexual health among adolescents and young adults living with HIV since infancy, as well as their sexual behavior. Among 27 young males and females of 16–20 years old who have lived with HIV since infancy and who took part in anonymous on-line questionnaire, 50% are sexually active. Most of them didn’t experience restrictions in their sexual and reproductive rights, nevertheless they often feel fear of transmitting HIV sexually to the other person. Adolescents and young adults perinataly infected with HIV are willing to use condom during sex and disclose their HIV status to their partner, however they have difficulties in more «complicated» social situations. They have a need in talking about sexual and reproductive health.