Sexual activities and social relationships of people with HIV in Japan

Abstract

Sixty-one Japanese with sexually transmitted HIV were investigated to clarify the state of, and difficulties in, their sexual activities and social relationships. The study revealed the following difficulties in social relationships due to HIV infection. Thirty-one per cent had experienced discrimination or breach of confidentiality. Self-restriction due to anxiety over discrimination was observed in approximately 90%, and the self-restriction score tended to be higher in those who were not employed, those with economic problems, those who were in a relatively poor state of health, those who had developed AIDS and those who had previously experienced discrimination or breach of confidentiality. The experience of discrimination or breach of confidentiality, and the experience of receiving negative support tended to increase as the respondents had a wider emotional support network. About 60% were dissatisfied with their sex lives, and the degree of satisfaction was significantly lower in those who had fewer sexual contacts and those who had a suppressive attitude toward sexual contacts. A low degree of satisfaction with sex life was found to be an important factor that escalates the level of depression or anxiety.

Stigma, discrimination, and sexual (dis)satisfaction among people living with HIV: results from the “AIDES et toi” survey

“…Bouhnik et al (2008) found that 33% of respondents declared having sexual difficulties. In addition, another study found that as much as 60% of HIV-positive respondents declared being dissatisfied with their sexual lives (Inoue et al, 2004). Some limitations must be highlighted before discussing our results.…”

“…Therefore, it is not surprising that there exists a relationship between the experience of stigma and discrimination and the psychosocial aspects of PLWHA's quality of life (Pre´au et al, 2007;Subramanian, Gupte, Dorairaj, Periannan, & Mathai, 2009). However, there is a lack of literature regarding sexual satisfaction among PLWHA (Inoue, Yamazaki, Seki, Wakabayashi, & Kihara, 2004;Lambert, Keegan, & Petrak, 2005) and, to our knowledge, its association with the HIV-related stigma and discrimination has been barely studied (Bouhnik et al, 2008). *Corresponding author.…”

“…Based on the large experience that this community-based organization has had with PLWHA as well as on previous works (Bouhnik et al, 2008;Inoue et al, 2004;Siegel, Schrimshaw, & Lekas, 2006), we hypothesized that feeling sexually (dis)satisfied could be related to the experience of stigma and discrimination in sexual settings. Consequently, the present work aims to determine if there is a link between discrimination and stigma, and sexual (dis)satisfaction among PLWHA from the data collected by a community-based survey called ''AIDES et toi.…”

The Intent and Practice of Condom Use Among HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men in Japan

“…11 The preliminary survey was carried out in September to November 2000, and the questionnaire used in this study was prepared on the basis of the results. 12 Participants in the study were recruited from November 2002 to April 2003 at four major hospitals in Japan (two in Tokyo, one in Osaka, and one in a northern area of Japan), relatively experienced in HIV treatment. Criteria for the participants were as follows: (1) Japanese, with sexually transmitted HIV and (2) those who visited the hospitals regularly.…”

Survey of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive patients with mycobacterial infection in Japan

“…A considerable number of HIV patients in Japan have experienced discrimination or breach of confidentiality and they feel insufficiency of social and economical supports. 22 Patients with mycobacterial infection used to be discriminated, but the prejudice toward the patients declines. The medical, social and economic backgrounds of HIV patients in Japan differ considerably from those in regions such as North America, Europe and Africa.…”