Risky sexual behaviors and stigma in seropositive Mexican patients

Abstract

Introduction. Risky sexual behaviors refer to a social, multifactorial, sociocultural and preventable phenomenon, linked to the subject's exposure to physical, sexual and reproductive health damage through unprotected sexual activity. Behaviors presenting the major risk involve behavioral issues and lack of knowledge about: sexually transmitted infections linked to unprotected sexual practices; risk perception; number of sexual partners; lack of sexual education; consumption of drugs and/ or alcohol; sex work; casual sex; early initiation to sexual relations; gender inequalities; and having sex with people and/or couples with a sexually transmitted infection. Methodology. A quantitative study was conducted to analyze the relationship between risky sexual behaviors, life satisfaction, and internalized and perceived stigma. A sample of 198 seropositive patients from a second level hospital of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) in Nuevo León (Mexico) was selected via simple random probabilistic sampling. The data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire, composed of the participants' sociodemographic data, questions on risky sexual behaviors and Likert scales on life satisfaction, internalized stigma and perceived discrimination (fear of discrimination and actual discrimination). Descriptive analyses were performed, in which means were compared based on sexual and correlational behaviors between the applied scales. Results. The results showed a directly proportional relationship between internalized stigma, the perception of discrimination and actual discrimination. Significant differences among seropositive patients were also found regarding risky sexual behaviors. Discussion. Higher levels of stigma were observed in patients who were monogamous, used drugs, had other sexually transmitted infections, did not use a condom, hid their status from their partners, and did not adhere to treatment. Conclusions. Based on the findings of this study, policies and sexual health interventions need to return to addressing stigmatization as well as to promoting specialized training measures for health professionals.