Exploring the association between openness about HIV status and suicidal thoughts among young people living with HIV in Sweden
1. Abstracts based on Formal Research WorkMaja Nanneson2, Veronica Svärd3, Henrik Källberg4, Johanna Rubin2, 5, Desireé Ljungcrantz1, Lars Navér2, 5
1 Unit for Sexual Health and HIV Prevention, Department of Communicable Disease Control and Health Protection, The Public Health Agency of Sweden
2 Department of Paediatrics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
3 Division of Insurance Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
4 Unit for Analysis, Department of Public Health Analysis and Data Management, The Public Health Agency of Sweden
5 Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Abstract
Introduction: Today, over 90 percent of young people living with HIV in Sweden are under viral suppression resulting in undetectable and untransmittable (U=U) viral loads which. This poses a new situation for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) among young people living with HIV. This study aims to explore the association between being as open as one wants with one's HIV status and having suicidal thoughts among young people aged 16-29 years living with HIV in Sweden. Methods: This study was conducted at eleven hospital clinics in Sweden where people living with HIV are given treatment and follow-up care. The survey had 173 respondents and a response rate of 51 percent. Descriptive statistics were used to give an overview of the respondents' answers regarding both the outcome variable (suicidal thoughts) and exposure variable (openness about HIV status). The intersections of gender and sexual identity were explored through regression models. Results: Among young people living with HIV, a higher proportion of boys than girls were as open as they wanted with their HIV status and almost the same proportion of boys and girls had suicidal thoughts. The intersections showed that the position with the most suicidal thoughts was found among young boys living with HIV and belonging to a sexual minority and not being able to be as open as they want about their HIV status. Conclusion: Being as open as one wants with one’s HIV status is associated with better mental health and fewer suicidal thoughts. If young people living with HIV are to have good living conditions throughout their life, the general public’s knowledge of HIV and human rights needs to be strengthened. The intersection of gender and sexual identity can point to health disparities depending on gender and sexual identity. More research is needed to strengthen health equity among young people living with HIV and the inclusive intentions of Agenda 2030.
Keywords: HIV, mental health, suicide, young people, disclosure, intersections
Corresponding/presenting author: Anna ChuChu Schindele, The Public Health Agency of Sweden. Work address: Tomtebodavägen 12 B, 171 82 Solna, Sweden, +46(0)70 7741530, anna-chuchu.schindele@folkhalsomyndigheten.se , ORCID: 0000-0002-2901-6861