Introduction: The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy has relaunched the debate on risky sexual behavior among HIV-infected gay men. It was proposed to study the influences of lifestyle characteristics and health-related quality of life (HRQL) on unsafe sex with casual partners in a representative sample of HIV-infected gay men.
Methods: In 2003, a national survey based on face-to-face interviews was conducted among a representative sample of patients selected in a random stratified sample of 102 French hospital departments delivering HIV care. The patients selected for this analysis were gay men who reported having had sex with casual partners during the previous 12 months. Unsafe sex was defined as at least 1 episode of anal sexual intercourse without a condom with a casual partner during the previous 12 months. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 Scale. Patients who declared that they had engaged in unsafe sex were compared with those who declared that they had not done so, using the chi test and logistic regressions.
Results: Among the 1,117 gay men who participated in the study, 607 declared having had casual partners during the previous 12 months, and 140 (20%) of this latter group had engaged in unsafe sex. Poor mental HRQL was encountered in 68% of the patients and found to be independently associated with unsafe sex, even after multiple adjustment for number of partners, occurrences of binge drinking, use of anxiolytics, use of the Internet, and use of outdoor and commercial venues for sexual encounters.
Conclusions: Risky sexual behavior with casual partners is frequent among HIV-infected gay men. In addition to other well-known factors, behavior of this kind was found in this study to be related to poor mental HRQL. A more comprehensive approach to care designed to improve mental quality of life might therefore make for more effective secondary prevention.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.qai.0000221674.76327.d7 | DOI Listing |
BMC Health Serv Res
January 2025
Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine.
Background: Unsafe surgical practices are a preventable cause of morbidity and mortality. The WHO published its surgical safety checklist (SSC) to help reduce surgical errors and complications and improve patient outcomes. This study aims to audit compliance with the WHO's SSC and explore attitudes toward its implementation in hospitals within a low- and middle-income country.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Prev (2022)
January 2025
Faculty of Health Sciences, Valencian International University, Pintor Sorolla 21, 46002, Valencia, Spain.
Chemsex is a specific practice of sexualized drug use (SDU), linked mainly to the group of men who have sex with men (MSM). This practice has become a public health problem due to the increase in sexually transmitted infections and HIV. However, there are groups and aspects that require greater visibility and research.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Hematol Oncol
January 2025
Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, People's Republic of China.
Background: Female-specific cancers, particularly breast, cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancers, account for nearly 40% of all cancers in women. This study aimed to analyze the global epidemiological trends of these cancers from 1990 to 2021, offering insights into their evolving patterns and providing valuable information for health policymakers to allocate healthcare resources more effectively.
Methods: Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021) were used to comprehensively assess the global incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of female-specific cancers.
Perspect Sex Reprod Health
January 2025
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
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Methods: In 2020, we invited individuals living in eight United States (US) states considered "hostile" to abortion rights or with a history of criminalizing abortions performed outside the formal healthcare system to participate in semi-structured telephone interviews regarding their attitudes toward these practices. We analyzed coded transcripts for content and themes.
Front Public Health
January 2025
CDC Project Regional HIV Case Surveillance Coordinator, Public Health Emergency Management Directorate, South Ethiopia Region Health Bureau Public Health Institute, Jinka, Ethiopia.
Background: Gender defined as the socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and characteristics that society deems appropriate for men, women, and other gender identities. Inequitable gender norms promote male dominance and aggressiveness while portraying women as being subservient. Ensuring equitable gender norms is a prerequisite for achieving gender equality in a society.
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