“Demand what you prefer”: the role of sexual assertiveness among HIV-infected women

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate sexual assertiveness among HIV-infected women, and to address the relationship between sexual assertiveness, sociodemographic characteristics, sexual and fertility profile, and HIV-related variables in this population. Design: A cross sectional study. Methods: The research was conducted with a sample of 93 eligible HIV-infected women referred to Imam Khomeini hospital between September 2016 and January 2018. The Hurlbert Index of Sexual Assertiveness was used to assess sexual assertiveness. Results: Mean and standard deviation of sexual assertiveness was 51.33 (20.16). We found a significant relationship between age (p = 0.04), education (p = 0.03), pregnancy experience (p = 0.003), age at the time of first sexual contact (p = 0.005), and disclosure of HIV sero-status to sexual partners (p = 0.05) and sexual assertiveness. Binary logistic regression results showed that age (p = 0.04), having live children (p = 0.003), and disclosure of HIV sero-status to sexual partners (p = 0.04) could significantly predict sexual assertiveness score. Conclusion: Our findings showed that level of sexual assertiveness in HIV sero-positive women deserves more attention. In addition, consideration should be given to sexual health related issues and sexual assertiveness skills during routine HIV care appointments.

Keywords

• assertiveness
• hiv
• safe sex
• sexual health
• women