[Sexual behavior and condom use by people living with HIV/AIDS in Gabon]

The HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Gabon in 2011 was 5% among subjects aged 15 to 49 years. The objective of this study was to describe sexuality and condom use among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) by comparing those living in the capital with those living in two provinces of Gabon: Ogowe-Maritime (Port-Gentil) and Ogowe-Moyen (Lambaréné).

A 5-month, cumulative, cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted between May 2009 and September 2010 among PLWH over the age of 18 years, attending Gabon treatment centres and treated with ARVs for at least six months. A simple random sampling method was used to construct this sample. This survey was conducted in seven different centres for PLWH.

The survey was conducted among 422 PLWH treated with ARV for at least six months: 284 (67.3%) subjects in Libreville and 138 (32.7%) in the provinces. The F/M sex ratio was 0.71. In this sample, 68% of PLWH reported sexual intercourse at least once during the previous 6 months. 49.5% of PLWH declared that they always used a condom with their main partner (p = 0.0096) and 52.4% declared that they always used a condom with other partners (p < 0.0001). 50.1% of PLWH also reported that their last sexual intercourse during the previous 6 months was with their main partner (p < 0.0001).

The majority of patients on ARV therapy use condoms with their main partner and with occasional partners. Management and condom use are more effective in Libreville.