UNPROTECTED SEXUAL PRACTICES AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG ADULT PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV ON ART IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS OF KEMBATA TEMBARO ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Back ground: ART significantly increases the life expectancy of HIV positive people by improving physical health and the quality of life, which may enable or encourage individuals to resume sexual activity. Growing number of people living longer with HIV forms a potential source of infection to sexually transmitted infections, including other strains of HIV, and place others at risk for HIV infection unless they consistently practice safer sexual behaviors. Very few study conducted in Southern Ethiopia on unprotected sexual practices of HIV positive people on ART. So, this study will supplement the scarcity of data on risky sexual behavior in the region. Objectives: To assess the magnitude of unprotected sexual practices and associated factors among adult people living with HIV on ART in public hospitals of Kembata Tembaro zone, Southern Ethiopia, from March, 1 to March, 30/2016. Methods: An institutional based cross sectional study was conducted to gather information on sexual behavior of 535 adult HIV positive people on ART in Kembata Tembaro zone public Hospitals. Data were collected by face to face interview using pre tested questionnaire. Frequencies, proportion, and summary statistics were used to describe the study population in relation to relevant variables and presented in tables. Data were entered using Epi-Data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 16 for analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to predict variables which have independent association with outcome variable. Result: The findings of this study showed that 40.9% of respondents were practiced unprotected sexual intercourse. Unprotected sex was significantly associated with being females (AOR: 1.944, 95% CI: 1.944(1.228, 3.078)), more than one sexual partners (AOR: 2.318, 95%CI: (1.328, 4.045)), average monthly income of <530 Ethiopian birr per month (AOR: 1.867, 95%CI: (1.206, 2.889)), those who had a sero-positive partner (AOR = 3.249, 95% CI: (1.762, 5.989)) or a partner of unknown sero-status (AOR = 5.040, 95% CI: (0.710, 35.792)) and respondents who had no sufficient knowledge on HIV transmission and prevention (AOR: 2.369, 95%CI: (1.094,5.128)) were more likely practiced unprotected sex. Conclusion: Respondents who had insufficient knowledge on HIV transmission, negative attitude towards condom use, non disclosure status and more than one sexual partnerships were more likely to have unprotected sex. The result showed, the need for behavioral change health education and counseling that should be strengthened and address the need of each individual.