Sexual behaviour and desire to discuss mental health as reported by HIV-infected men who have sex with men

Abstract

We assessed sexually transmitted infection risk behaviours and desire to discuss mental health, as reported by 426 HIV-infected men who have sex with men receiving HIV care in eight urban clinics. Most of these patients (90%) had begun HIV care >1 year ago. In the past year, 74% had multiple sexual partners, 75% engaged in anal intercourse, 48% had >1 HIV-uninfected partner and 82% used illegal psychoactive drugs. Among those reporting anal intercourse, approximately 61% reported using a condom during the most recent episode. Among all patients, 70% wanted to talk with their clinicians about how they felt mentally or emotionally. Using a two-tailed chi-squared test, we found that patients who engaged in unprotected receptive anal sex were more likely to want such a conversation than those who did not (80% versus 62%, P < 0.01); and those who engaged in unprotected insertive anal sex were also more likely to want such a conversation (81% versus 63%, P < 0.01). The findings highlight the prevalence of risky sexual behaviour and of mental health concerns in the participating patient population. Patients reporting risky sexual behaviour were more likely to want to discuss how they felt mentally or emotionally than those not reporting such behaviour.

Counselors-in-Training Reactions to Clients Living with and without HIV

“…Unfortunately, the presence of HIV stigma further exacerbates the stress of living with HIV (Herek, 2014). In addition to these concerns, PLWHA report having a desire to speak about their emotional and mental well-being with care providers, highlighting the need for professional helpers to be knowledgeable about working with this population (Safran, Hoover, Tao, & Butler, 2013).…”

Medical Trauma: Assessing Trauma and Growth Following an HIV Diagnosis

“…In addition to these mental health concerns, the stress of living with HIV is often exacerbated by the presence of HIV stigma (Breet, Kagee, & Seedat, ). PLWHA report having a desire to speak about their emotional and mental well‐being with care providers, which supports the need for mental health counselors to be knowledgeable about working with this group (Safran, Hoover, Tao, & Butler, ); yet, limited knowledge currently exists about appropriate mental health intervention with this population. As medical treatments for HIV continue to advance, previous mental health approaches for PLWHA (e.g., facing end‐of‐life concerns, experiencing death anxiety; Hintze, Templer, Cappelletty, & Frederick, ) have become less relevant, leaving an obvious gap in the literature.…”