This study evaluated at-risk behavior for HIV infection among Italian psychiatric inpatients. One hundred patients with mental disorders consecutively admitted to an acute psychiatric unit over a one-year period were studied using a self-report questionnaire. 53.1% of the patients reported sex with multiple partners, 35.4% with occasional partners, 57% had sex with prostitutes, 6.7% with IV drug users. Forty-three percent had never used condoms during sexual intercourse; 23% had used drugs intravenously; 20% had shared needles. Only one-third of the patients were tested for HIV, and 2 tested seropositive (prevalence 5.8%). Most patients (62%) reported no concern about the risk of HIV infection. The rate of HIV risk behaviors was higher among psychiatric patients than a control group of 90 healthy people. These findings indicate an alarming rate of HIV risk behavior among Italian psychiatric inpatients and the need for closer attention to HIV assessment and education in mental health settings.

Human immunodeficiency virus-related risk behavior among Italian psychiatric inpatients

GRASSI, Luigi;FERRI, Stefano;PAVANATI, Michele
1999

Abstract

This study evaluated at-risk behavior for HIV infection among Italian psychiatric inpatients. One hundred patients with mental disorders consecutively admitted to an acute psychiatric unit over a one-year period were studied using a self-report questionnaire. 53.1% of the patients reported sex with multiple partners, 35.4% with occasional partners, 57% had sex with prostitutes, 6.7% with IV drug users. Forty-three percent had never used condoms during sexual intercourse; 23% had used drugs intravenously; 20% had shared needles. Only one-third of the patients were tested for HIV, and 2 tested seropositive (prevalence 5.8%). Most patients (62%) reported no concern about the risk of HIV infection. The rate of HIV risk behaviors was higher among psychiatric patients than a control group of 90 healthy people. These findings indicate an alarming rate of HIV risk behavior among Italian psychiatric inpatients and the need for closer attention to HIV assessment and education in mental health settings.
1999
Grassi, Luigi; Peron, L; Ferri, Stefano; Pavanati, Michele
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11392/1203931
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 8
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 7
social impact