Abstract
Objective: To clarify the state of support provided by medical staff for the sexual health of people with HIV (PWH), and related factors.
Methods: Four focus-group discussion sessions and two semi-structured interviews involving members of the medical staff directly involved in the support for sexual health of PWH, were carried out in September and October 2003, and the data obtained were analyzed.
Results: The data suggests that the staff members recognized the importance of supporting for sexual health of PWH, but that they also considered the actual support to be insufficient. As factors related to this state, the following 5 points were categorized: 1) Lack of confidence and hesitation in providing support for sexual health, 2) shifting between the position of a medical professional and that of an unbiased person, 3) diversity of the contents for consultation regarding sexual health, 4) patients selecting suitable consultants from among the medical staff members, and 5) inadequacy of the team care system for providing support for sexual health.
Conclusion: These factors are considered to be based on the facts that there is no consensus among those involved in giving care, either in-or outside of the hospitals that medical staff should provide support for the sexual health of PWH, and that few medical facilities have announced to patients that they can provide consultation concerning their sexual health. Such a situation urgently requires correction.
