High-risk behaviours, and their associations with mental health, adherence to antiretroviral therapy and HIV parameters, in HIV-positive men who have sex with men

HIV Med. 2019 Feb;20(2):131-136. doi: 10.1111/hiv.12690. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the patterns and frequency of multiple risk behaviours (alcohol, drugs, smoking, higher risk sexual activity) among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV.

Methods: Cross sectional study.

Results: 147 out of 819 HIV-positive MSM exhibited a high-risk phenotype (defined as >3 of smoking, excess alcohol, sexually transmitted infection and recent recreational drug use). This phenotype was associated with younger age, depressive symptoms and <90% adherence in multivariable logistic regression.

Conclusion: In a cohort of MSM, a small, but significant proportion exhibited multiple concurrent risk behaviours.

Keywords: HIV; adherence; mental health; recreational drugs; risk behaviours.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / psychology
  • Health Risk Behaviors
  • Homosexuality, Male / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Medication Adherence / psychology
  • Medication Adherence / statistics & numerical data
  • Mental Health
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sexual Behavior / psychology
  • Sexual Behavior / statistics & numerical data*
  • Smoking / epidemiology*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Young Adult