Our objective was to assess human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) knowledge and sexual behaviors in 294 perinatally HIV-infected youth aged 18 to 25 years from a psychosocial support group in Kampala using a self-administered survey. Seventy-nine percent reported an undetectable viral load, 9.5% detectable, and 12% did not know. Of those with sexual partners, 19% did not know the HIV status of their partner, 64% knew negative, and 22% knew positive. Sixty-two percent disclosed their HIV status to their partner. Seventy-two percent of participants previously had sex, and of those, 57% were sexually active in the last three months. Sixty-eight percent of participants used methods to prevent pregnancy. Seventy percent of participants denied physical, sexual, or emotional intimate partner violence. There was good adherence to antiretroviral therapy and a high proportion of contraceptive use, highlighting the importance of integrating these topics into psychosocial support programs for youth living with HIV.
Keywords: Uganda; disclosure and stigma < psychosocial aspects of HIV/AIDS; perinatal HIV; sexual risk behavior; young persons.
Understanding HIV and Sexual Behavior Among Ugandan Youth Who Contracted the Virus at Birth: A SurveyWe wanted to find out what young people who were born with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Uganda know about the virus and how they handle their relationships. We included 294 young adults from a support group in Kampala. They answered a 25-question survey. Most (79%) reported a very low level of the virus in their blood, 9.5% reported a detectable level, and 12% did not know their viral load in their blood. Of those with sexual partners, 19% did not know their partner's HIV status, 64% knew their partner was negative, and 22% knew they were positive. A total of 62% had told their partner about their HIV status. A total of 72% had sex before, and of those, 57% were sexually active in the last 3 months. A total of 68% of participants regularly used methods to prevent pregnancy. A total of 70% of participants said they had not experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence in a relationship. In general, young people with HIV in the study knew a lot about their viral load and their partner's HIV status. There were low rates of violence between partners. However, there were some gaps in knowledge about preventing pregnancy and sharing HIV status, so it is important to include these topics more in education and support programs for young people with HIV.