Document 2010
 DOCN  M94A2010
 TI    Psychosocial stressors affecting the quality of life of HIV seropositive
       Puerto Rican gay men after diagnosis.
 DT    9412
 AU    Ortiz-Colon R; Marin B; Univ. of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):400 (abstract no. PD0207). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94370565
 AB    OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of AIDS and HIV in Puerto Rico is one of the
       highest in the world, with more than 12,000 confirmed cases of AIDS in
       an island population of 3.5 million people. Very little is known about
       the psychosocial stressors threatening the quality of life of HIV
       seropositive Puerto Rican gay men, about the mechanisms they use to
       buffer stress and maintain health or about how they cope with HIV and
       AIDS after diagnosis. The present research explored these issues,
       specificially among Puerto Rican gay men with HIV/AIDS. METHODS: Twelve
       Puerto Rican HIV seropositive men were interviewed qualitatively
       concerning the impact of their seropositivity upon their daily lives.
       Participants were recruited through collaboration with AIDS service
       agencies and other snowballing techniques. They narrated their
       experiences after diagnosis, which were then submitted to content
       analysis. RESULTS: Several categories were gleaned from their narratives
       regarding their most stressful situations: disclosure of their HIV
       status to primary and casual sexual partners; lack of adequate,
       gay-sensitive, and informed medical care from attending physicians after
       diagnosis; consistent condom use in all their sexual encounters; and
       social and sexual isolation from others. All (100%) had problems with
       disclosure of their HIV status, even to significant others, like close
       family, intimate friends and long-time lovers. About 75% reported
       relapse to unsafe sex, especially unprotected receptive anal sex, after
       having practiced safe sex for about six months after diagnosis. 70%
       reported a poor relationship with their primary health care provider,
       due to their physicians' apparent insensitivity to gayness and
       homophobia. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest an urgent need
       to counsel and follow HIV seropositive gay men for an extended period
       after receiving the diagnosis. After an initial period of responsiveness
       and of adaptation to the results, it appears that asymptomatic or mildly
       symptomatic HIV+ Puerto Rican gay men relapse to unsafe sex, and have
       many difficulties disclosing their status to loved ones in their support
       network. Future research needs to focus more closely on this phenomenon,
       as well as on the quality and closeness of the relationship between
       people with HIV/AIDS and their physicians.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/DIAGNOSIS/*PSYCHOLOGY
       Homosexuality/*PSYCHOLOGY  Human  HIV
       Seropositivity/DIAGNOSIS/*PSYCHOLOGY  Male  Physician-Patient Relations
       Prejudice  Puerto Rico  *Quality of Life  Sex Behavior  Sick Role
       Social Support  Stress, Psychological/*COMPLICATIONS  Truth Disclosure
       MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).