Abstract:
Introduction: Now a days, as a result of the wide availability, expansion and success of anti- retroviral therapy, HIV/AIDS related morbidities and mortalities are significantly decreasing and many HIV infected persons are living longer, healthier, and become more sexually active. Even though most HIV infected individuals protect themselves and others, a considerable number of HIV infected parsons continue to engage in HIV transmission risk practices. Unsafe sex by people living with HIV/AIDS is an area of concern because of the risk of transmission to sero discordant partners and the re-infection with new, drug resistant viral strains among the sero concordant partner(s).
Objective:-To assess risky sexual behavior and associated factors among adult HIV positive clients in Gondar University Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2015.
Methods:- An institutional based cross sectional study was conducted at Gondar University Referral Hospital, from May to June 2015. Structured and pretested questionnaire was used to collect the data. A total of 513 respondents were included in the study. The data was collected by interviewing respondents from May to June. Logistic regression model was used for analysis. Variables having P-value <0.05 was considered significantly associated. Adjusted odds ratio in multivariate analysis was used to determine the degree of association.
Result: - A total of 513 participants were included in the study. The prevalence of risky sexual practice was 214 (41.7%, 95%CI: 37.4%, 45.8%). The factors associated with risky sexual practice were HIV status of partner (AOR=4.785, 95% CI: 1.929- 11.868), knowing partner’s HIV status (AOR=4.401, 95% CI: 1.101, 17.584), pattern of condom use (AOR= 29.522, 95%.CI: 8.789, 99.170) and HIV status disclosure to sexual partner (AOR= 11.937, 95%, CI: 2.797-50.944).
Conclusion and recommendation:- The high prevalence of risky sexual practice in this study indicated the possible an ongoing transmission of HIV to others and re-infection with other strain(s) among HIV positive adults. Therefore strong ongoing counseling and education related to the identified risk practices should be given to these population
