Ageing and healthy sexuality among women living with HIV

Bibliographic Data

ID3972419
AuthorsManjulaa Narasimhan (0000-0003-0598-6887, World Health Organization, corresponding author), Caitlin Payne (Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA), Stephanie Calda, Stephanie V Caldas (0000-0002-1681-6771, Johns Hopkins University), Stephanie Caldas (Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA), Jennifer Beard (0000-0002-8557-0242, World Health Organization), John R Beard (World Health Organization), Caitlin E Kennedy (0000-0001-6820-063X, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA)
Year2016
Volume24
Issue48
Pages43-51
Publication date2016-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueReproductive Health Matters (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0968-8080 • E-ISSN: 1460-9576
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1016/j.rhm.2016.11.001
PMID28024676
OpenAlexW2553388394
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited37

Populations around the world are rapidly ageing and effective treatment for HIV means women living with HIV (WLHIV) can live longer, healthier lives. HIV testing and screening programmes and safer sex initiatives often exclude older sexually active WLHIV. Systematically reviewing the literature to inform World Health Organization guidelines on the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of WLHIV, identified four studies examining healthy sexuality among older WLHIV. In Uganda, WLHIV reported lower rates of sexual activity and rated sex as less important than men. In the United States, HIV stigma, disclosure, and body image concerns, among other issues, were described as inhibiting relationship formation and safer sexual practices. Sexual activity declined similarly over time for all women, including for WLHIV who reported more protected sex, while a significant minority of WLHIV reported unprotected sex. A single intervention, the "ROADMAP" intervention, demonstrated significant increases in HIV knowledge and decreases in HIV stigma and high risk sexual behaviour. WLHIV face ageist discrimination and other barriers to remaining sexually active and maintaining healthy sexual relationships, including challenges procuring condoms and seeking advice on safe sex practices, reduced ability to negotiate safer sex, physical and social changes associated with menopause, and sexual health challenges due to disability and comorbidities. Normative guidance does not adequately address the SRHR of older WLHIV, and while this systematic review highlights the paucity of data, it also calls for additional research and attention to this important area

Environmental health · Family medicine · Human sexuality · Population · Reproductive health · Sociology · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demography · Gender Studies · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Psychology · Gerontology