Marital life, sexual relations, and fertility health in Iranian HIV/AIDS patients: A qualitative study

Abstract

Introduction: Although the rights, needs, and interests of reproductive and sexual health in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive women and men are similar to those of HIV-negative people, some biological and social differences require them to be given special attention. The aim of this qualitative study was exploring the sexual behaviours and reproductive health of people with HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Material and methods: The data collected in this study included semi-structured, face-to-face and audio recorded interviews with 14 HIV/AIDS patients referring to the Behavioural Disease Counselling Centres of Tehran and Rasht (Iran). Purposeful sampling with maximum variation was used to select participants. The duration of the interviews was between 40 and 75 minutes. MAXQDA10 software was used to organise and manage the data, and conventional concept analysis was used to examine the data. Results: Fifty-seven per cent of the participants were male and 64% were married. More than 90% of the participants had not had children since the disease. In the analysis of interviews, the following three themes were extracted: stressful marriage, sexual activity, and childbearing. Conclusions: The findings of the study, not only in the field of health care management but also at the social level, have applications supporting people living with HIV/AIDS as well as non-affected people.