Serostatus disclosure, sexual communication and safer sex in HIV-positive men

Abstract

This study assessed HIV-positive men's sexual behaviours with partners at risk for infection, and examined the extent to which safer sex was associated with interpersonal communication variables, namely, (1) disclosure of one's seropositive status and (2) specific communication with partners about safer-sex practices. A total of 105 HIV-positive men (43% homosexual, 38% bisexual, 19% heterosexual), randomly sampled at an HIV outpatient clinic in Los Angeles, completed a behavioural questionnaire assessing events in their most recent sexual encounter with an HIV-negative or unknown serostatus partner. Results indicated that men who disclosed their seropositive status and explicitly discussed the topic of safer sex with their at-risk partners had a significantly higher prevalence of protected anal or vaginal intercourse than did men who disclosed only. The findings suggest that post-test counselling regarding the importance of disclosing one's seropositive status to sex partners should be augmented by behavioural interventions that enhance seropositive persons' skills in communicating explicitly with partners about safer sex to help reduce transmission of HIV.