University of Gothenburg
Institute of Health and Care Sciences
Institute of Health and Care Sciences
Gravid kvinna med tablettkartor i handen
Photo: Volodomyr Hryschenko
  2. Institute of Health and Care Sciences
  3. Sexuality in Women Living with HIV

Sexuality in Women Living with HIV

In 2020, it was estimated that 38 million people globally were living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In Sweden, approximately 8,100 people are infected with HIV, of which 39% are women. HIV is a disease that can be transmitted sexually or by mother-to-child and HIV therefore affects sexuality and childbearing in women living with HIV, such as having a fear of transmitting HIV to a baby or a partner.

In Sweden, the Communicable Diseases Act has an impact on women living with HIV in relation to sexuality and childbirth. There are no studies describing how these women experience their sexuality and childbirth in a Swedish context. Studies examining sexuality and its relation to other health factors, such as HIV-related biomarker or satisfaction with physical and psychological health.  

Aim  

The overall aim of the research project is to investigate sexuality and its different aspects in women living with HIV in Sweden. Further the aim is to investigate childbearing and sexual satisfaction.

Research activities 

Five studies have been conducted. The first study is a meta-synthesis aiming to synthesize experiences of sexuality and reproduction as described in qualitative studies. Two studies are phenomenological studies describing different aspects of the lived experiences of sexuality and childbearing in women living with HIV in Sweden and what kind of support they need. Two studies are quantitative registry studies examining associations and predictors of self-reported sexual satisfaction.

Publications  

Ewa Carlsson-Lalloo, Marie Rusner, Marie Berg, Veronica Svedhem & Åsa Mellgren (2021) People living with HIV in Sweden report high levels of sexual satisfaction in a registry-based cohort study, AIDS Care

Carlsson-Lalloo, E., Rusner, M., Mellgren, Å. and Berg, M. 2016. Sexuality and Reproduction in HIV-Positive Women: A Meta-Synthesis. AIDS Patient Care and STDs. 30(2), 56- 69.

Carlsson-Lalloo, E., Berg, M., Mellgren, Å. and Rusner, M. 2018. Sexuality and childbearing as it is experienced by women living with HIV in Sweden–a lifeworld phenomenological study. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. 13:1, 1487760.

Thesis: "Sexuality in women living with HIV"

 

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