Poor sexual health linked to beliefs and attitudes

A survey has found that African people’s beliefs and attitudes about sexual health can affect whether they are more, or less likely to get a sexually transmitted infection. BASS Line 2007 Survey also found that the sexual health needs of Africans are not being fully met.

John Owuor summarises the key findings.

Did you know?

• Condoms are available free of charge from some GPs, sexual health clinics, family planning clinics and some African voluntary organisations?
• That information about how to use the condom, and what to do in case the condom breaks, is included in each condom pack?
• That used properly, the condom can prevent a sexually transmitted infection?
• That in 2007 there were 2,691 HIV infections diagnosed in Black Africans in the UK;
• That the HIV infection rate among Black Africans is nearly ten times that for Black Caribbean, and over 30 times that
  for the white population?
• That three out of every ten Africans with HIV do not yet know that they have the virus?
• That four out of every ten Africans with HIV get tested very late, often when the virus has damaged their immune system?

About the survey:

BASS Line 2007 Survey was intended to find answers to the question as to why Africans are at higher risk from sexually transmitted infections, in particular HIV, than any other population group. Its findings are helping government and voluntary organisations to better plan for services that target Africans.

Participants in the survey gave different but very interesting answers to the survey questions.

For example, when asked why they had never gone for a HIV test, the following were given as answers:

• “People I know do not approve of HIV testing”
• “I didn’t know the test existed”
• “It’s not important for me to know my HIV status”
• “I don’t trust the places I know where I could test”
• “It would cause problems in my relationship”

Other reasons for not testing included:

• The mistaken belief that people get deported for testing positive;
• Some were scared they might be infected already, so ‘better not to confirm’;
• Fear of stigma and discrimination, or that the partner will reject them;
• Some said they had never had sex.

What the survey found:

Sexual behaviour
One in ten Africans who took part in the survey reported unprotected sex with someone of unknown HIV status. This was more common among people with more than one sexual partner;

Males who had tested positive were more likely than females to report unprotected intercourse with someone of unknown HIV status;

Bisexual males (i.e. men who are attracted to men as well as women) were more likely to have sexual relationships outside their regular relationship.

Sexual health and age groups
The average age of the people who took part in the survey was 32 years. The study found that young people aged 20 and below are at greatest risk from sexually transmitted infections.

• They knew less about HIV compared to older people;
• They had problems getting hold of free condoms;
• They felt less confident about talking about safer sex with their partner.
• The 20-30 years age group reported higher risk sexual behaviour that could lead to HIV transmission.

Testing history
47% of all participants in the survey had never tested for HIV;

About 28% of them who said they were willing or would consider taking the HIV test did not know where to get tested;
The majority of those who had never tested said the main reason was that they did not think they were at risk from HIV.

Condom use

• About 23% of respondents said they had problems getting free condoms;
• About 29% said they would worry about what people would think if they carried condoms around;
• 70% had used condoms in the previous year; this was more common among males than females;

However, about a quarter of those who used condoms reported condom failure due to:

1. Using a condom for more than 30 minutes
2. Using wrong-sized condoms
3. Not using any form of water -based lubricant.

Facts about the HIV test:
Did you know that the HIV test is free at all NHS hospitals, at some GPs and community organisations, and that there is probably a test site near where you live? Also, did you know of the following benefits of testing?

• If you are positive, you will be able to discuss treatment and other
  forms of support with your doctor;
• You will be able to make better plans for you and your family;
• Nowadays, with treatment a person with HIV can expect to live well into advanced age, as long as he or she avoids alcohol, smoking, drug abuse, heavy manual work, and eats and sleeps well;
• Information about your test result will not passed on to your GP or other people without your knowledge or permission (although a court might ask a doctor to reveal the information if required);
• Nowadays HIV tests can produce a result within an hour, meaning you will not have to spend a long time at the clinic.

Useful contacts:
You can get further information about sexual health and HIV services from the following sources:

African HIV Policy Network (AHPN) www.ahpn.org
Family Planning Association www.fpa.org.uk/
National AIDS Trust www.nat.org.uk
Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) www.tht.org.uk
National AIDS Manual (NAM) www.aidsmap.com
African AIDS help line 0800 0967500
THT direct 08451221200
Terrence Higgins Trust clinics www.tht.org.uk/howwecanhelpyou/clinics/
FPA www.fpa.org.uk/finder/
For the full survey report please visit www.sigmaresearch.org.uk/go.php/reports/report2008b/

Posted On: 16 June 2009 at 03:52PM
Tags: survey

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