Existing sexual risk behaviour among patients receiving Antiretroviral treatment in Umlazi, Kwazulu-Natal

This study of HIV positive patients in Umlazi, KwaZulu Natal, receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) focuses on the impact of HAART on respondents' reported sexual behaviour and perceptions of infectiousness while on HAART. The findings indicate relatively high levels of consistent condom use among respondents, and that they meet certain common challenges to condom use including their partner's attitude to HIV/AIDS, communication patterns and openness in their relationships. Other factors specifically related to being HIV-positive or on HAART that influence consistent condom use are disclosure, partner communication and knowledge of partner's status. However, findings show that participants have both a good understanding of reasons for consistent condom use and a strong motivation to use them. This survey reflects a substantiated positive link between partners' disclosure and condom use, underlining the importance of positive communication patterns in respondents' relationships. Nothing in this study suggests a relationship between commencing HAART and an increase in risky sexual behaviour. Rather, the findings indicate a decrease in sexual partners and an increase in consistent condom use among respondents on HAART.</P

Investigating sexual risk behavior among patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.In the last seven to eight years, Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) has received an increasing amount of attention internationally. It has come to be viewed as an important way of preventing new HIV infections and prolonging HIV-positive peoples' lives. In late 2003 the increased attention, amongst other factors, led the South African government to publish a comprehensive health care plan stating that all citizens in South Africa who need ART should receive it by year 2009. Patients' adherence and their sexual behavior are crucial to the success of ART. This thesis focuses on what factors influence patients' sexual behavior after commencing ART. It will especially look at ART patients' perception of their own infectiousness, as studies have suggested that lower viral loads caused by ART will increase their sexual risk behaviour. The research was conducted on patients attending Ithembalabantu Clinic in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Qualitative and quantitative data were used in the study. The quantitative data involved 271 face-to-face interviews based on a survey. The qualitative data involved conducting 20 semistructured interviews. The results indicated that consistent condom use was high among the sample population (72%), and only two females and seven males having multiple partners (7%). However, due to ART just recently having been introduced in South Africa, the average time spent on ART was 14 months. The findings reveal that a partner's attitude to HIV/AIDS and the levels of communication and openness in a relationship influenced consistent use of condoms. The use of condoms was significantly related to knowledge of partners' status. A high level of sexual assertiveness amongst the females in the sample might have made it easier for them to negotiate condom use. The stage at which members of the sample population entered the relationship was also a predictor of condom use. People who were unemployed and over 35 years in age were less likely to use condoms consistently. The study also examined the respondents' perception of their own infectiousness. The results indicate that respondents and participants felt that it was just as, or even more dangerous, to have sexual intercourse without a condom when they are on ART. Few of the participants in the study understood the concept of viral load. They used the same explanation for both viral load and CD4 count