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Reconciling Serodiscordance: Lived Experiences of Mixed HIV-Status Relationships in Ethiopia

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Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Couples with Mixed HIV Status: Beyond Positive/Negative

Part of the book series: Social Aspects of HIV ((SHIV,volume 2))

Abstract

This qualitative study explored how HIV-positive partners in serodiscordant couples in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia conceptualize serodiscordance, negotiate daily life, and manage HIV transmission risk. Although the emergence of Treatment as Prevention (TasP) has improved management of HIV in many places, the social complexities of serodiscordance remain much the same at the study site. HIV-positive partners in mixed-status relationships were interviewed individually (N = 15) or in a group (one interview, five participants). All participants were taking antiretroviral treatment (ART). None understood the science of serodiscordance; many resorted to spiritual explanations of their situation. Sexual intimacy was complicated by tension between resuming a “normal” sexual life and avoiding viral transmission, and by gendered differences, with women more likely to suggest that serodiscordance eroded their power in sexual negotiations. Although most sexually active participants were concerned about transmitting HIV to their HIV-negative partner, the desire for children was the most commonly cited cause of non-use of condoms. HIV-positive people in serodiscordant relationships experience a range of psychological and socio-cultural challenges in daily life, from stigma and verbal abuse to guilt and reduced intimacy, but most couples were committed to the survival of their relationship. Couples-based counseling and culturally sensitive interventions should be developed and implemented.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Brown School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA

    Yordanos M. Tiruneh & Ira B. Wilson

  2. Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Yemane Berhane

Authors
  1. Yordanos M. Tiruneh
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  2. Yemane Berhane
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  3. Ira B. Wilson
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Correspondence to Yordanos M. Tiruneh .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Social Research in Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    Asha Persson

  2. Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA

    Shana D. Hughes

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Tiruneh, Y.M., Berhane, Y., Wilson, I.B. (2017). Reconciling Serodiscordance: Lived Experiences of Mixed HIV-Status Relationships in Ethiopia. In: Persson, A., Hughes, S. (eds) Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Couples with Mixed HIV Status: Beyond Positive/Negative. Social Aspects of HIV, vol 2. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42725-6_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42725-6_12

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-42723-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-42725-6

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