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Predictors of HIV Disclosure Among Untested, HIV-Negative and HIV-Positive Australian Men Who had Anal Intercourse with Their Most Recent Casual Male Sex Partner

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Abstract

We analysed HIV disclosure between Australian men who have sex with men (MSM) who reported anal intercourse with their last casual male partner. Of 804 MSM included in the analysis, 413 reported HIV disclosure and 391 reported no disclosure. After identifying bivariate associations with HIV disclosure, we developed three models of HIV disclosure (one for untested, one for HIV-negative and one for HIV-positive MSM). A range of factors was found to be associated with HIV disclosure. Having previously had sex with the last casual male partner and expecting HIV-negative and HIV-positive men to disclose before sex were predictors of HIV disclosure shared by more than one serostatus group. As unprotected anal intercourse was more common among MSM who disclosed (across all serostatus groups), we suggest caution should be exercised before encouraging HIV disclosure as a prevention strategy. Nondisclosure remains more strongly associated with safe sex among Australian MSM.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks to all the men who participated in the e-male survey, and to June Crawford, Seth Kalichman and two anonymous reviewers for their constructive feedback on this paper. The study was funded by the Australian Research Council (Linkage Program), NSW Health, Queensland Health, the Victorian Department of Human Services and WA Health. ACON, the Queensland Association of Healthy Communities and the Victorian AIDS Council provided in-kind support. The National Centre in HIV Social Research receives core funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. The first author’s position is supported by the Consortium for Social and Policy Research on HIV, Hepatitis C and Related Diseases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Centre in HIV Social Research, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia

    M. Holt

  2. School of Public Health and Community Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    P. Rawstorne & H. Worth

  3. School of Behavioural, Cognitive and Social Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia

    M. Bittman

  4. Department of Sociology and Social Policy, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    J. Wilkinson

  5. Social Policy Research Centre, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    S. Kippax

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  1. M. Holt
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  2. P. Rawstorne
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  3. H. Worth
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  4. M. Bittman
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  5. J. Wilkinson
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  6. S. Kippax
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Correspondence to M. Holt.

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Holt, M., Rawstorne, P., Worth, H. et al. Predictors of HIV Disclosure Among Untested, HIV-Negative and HIV-Positive Australian Men Who had Anal Intercourse with Their Most Recent Casual Male Sex Partner. AIDS Behav 15, 1128–1139 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-009-9645-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-009-9645-8

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