Sexuality, risk behavior, sexuality, and screening for HIV/AIDS in an Ivory Coast psychiatric hospital setting: Pilot survey

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of a one-month-period (1st to March 31st, 2011) at the Bingerville psychiatric hospital. The aim of the study was to assess the seroprevalence of HIV in Ivory Coast psychiatric settings, describe the sexual practices, and risk behaviors. The study included 70 patients (42 men and 28 women), mostly single (74.3%) with an average age of 34.7 years (range 17 to 68 years), a high level of education (67.1%) and at least having one child (45.7%). Psychiatric admissions were dominated by schizophrenia patients (53%), bipolar disorder (21.5%), and acute psychotic disorders (10%). The refusal rate of HIV testingwas 49%. HIV seroprevalencewas estimated at 13.9%. The psychiatric population was sexually active (61.4%) and heterosexual (95.8%) with genitalized sexuality (91.4%), a condom was not routinely used (55.5%). The existence of sexual violence experienced (14.3%), history of sexually transmitted infections (10%) and use of psychoactive substances (alcohol and non-injection drugs) followed by sex (14.3%) was found in our study. Risk behaviors and the present low rate of HIV testing in favor a program of prevention and adapted care in a psychiatric environment in the Ivory Coast.