Predictors of Sexual Dysfunction in HIV-Infected Men

 

Fatemeh Dadgar¹, Zeinab Moshfeghy^2,3, Roksana Janghorban³, Marziyeh Doostfatemeh⁴

 

¹Student Research Committee, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery,
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
²Student Research Committee, Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
³Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery,
Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
⁴Department of Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

 

SUMMARY

 

Aims: The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in people infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is higher than in those without this infection. Sexual dysfunction in HIV-infected people is associated with adverse outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the predictors of sexual function in people infected with HIV.
Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was done at Behavioral disease counseling centers. Samples were taken from 186 HIV-infected men. Demographic variables were recorded. Sexual function and psychological status were assessed by the International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire, the DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales), and the Domestic Violence Questionnaire. To examine the CD4 cells and hormonal profiles, blood samples were taken from each patient. The data were analyzed using the SPSS18 software.
Results: A multivariate analysis showed that hepatitis B infection (P = 0.034, OR = 9.6), smoking (P = 0.026, OR = 2.5), severe stress (P = 0.04, OR = 0.32) and severe depression (P = 0.042, OR = 6.9) were the predictors of sexual dysfunction in HIV-infected men.
Conclusion: This study showed that smoking, hepatitis B infection, severe depression, and severe stress could be predictors of sexual dysfunction in those men.

 Keywords: depression, erectile dysfunction, human immunodeficiency virus, sexual dysfunction, stress

 

 

Corresponding author:

Roksana Janghorban

e-mail: janghorban@sums.ac.ir