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The Efficacy of Serostatus Disclosure for HIV Transmission Risk Reduction

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Abstract

Interventions to assist HIV+ persons in disclosing their serostatus to sexual partners can play an important role in curbing rates of HIV transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM). Based on the methods of Pinkerton and Galletly (AIDS Behav 11:698–705, 2007), we develop a mathematical probability model for evaluating effectiveness of serostatus disclosure in reducing the risk of HIV transmission and extend the model to examine the impact of serosorting. In baseline data from 164 HIV+ MSM participating in a randomized controlled trial of a disclosure intervention, disclosure is associated with a 45.0 % reduction in the risk of HIV transmission. Accounting for serosorting, a 61.2 % reduction in risk due to disclosure was observed in serodisconcordant couples. The reduction in risk for seroconcordant couples was 38.4 %. Evidence provided supports the value of serostatus disclosure as a risk reduction strategy in HIV+ MSM. Interventions to increase serostatus disclosure and that address serosorting behaviors are needed.

Resumen

Las intervenciones para ayudar a las personas VIH+ en la revelación de su estado serológico a sus parejas sexuales pueden tenerun papel importante en disminuir la transmisión de VIH entre hombres que tienen relaciones sexuales con hombres (HSH). Basados en los métodos de Pinkerton y Galletly (AIDS Behav 11:698–705, 2007) desarrollamos un modelo de probabilidad matemática para evaluar la eficacia de revelación de la serología en la reducción del riesgo de transmisión del VIH y extendimos este modelo para examinar el impacto de serosorting (tener sexo con personas con el mismo estatus de VIH). En datos iniciales de 164 HSH VIH+ participando en un ensayo controlado aleatorizado de una intervención de divulgación, la práctica de divulgación se asocia con una reducción de 45.0 % en el riesgo de transmisión de VIH. Considerando serosorting, se observó una reducción de 61.2 % en riesgo debido a la divulgación en parejas serodiscordantes. La reducción en el riesgo para las parejas sero-concordantes fue 38.4 %. La evidencia proporcionada apoya el valor de la práctica de divulgación del estado serológico como estrategia de reducción de riesgos en HSH con VIH. Las intervenciones para aumentar la divulgación del estado serológico dirigidas hacia las personas que practican serosorting, se necesitan.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH082639) to the third author. The authors would like to thank the men who participated in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Educational Studies, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Ann A. O’Connell

  2. Department of Child and Family Studies, University of South Florida, 13301 Bruce B Downs Blvd., MHC 2503, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA

    Sandra J. Reed & Julianne A. Serovich

Authors
  1. Ann A. O’Connell
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  2. Sandra J. Reed
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  3. Julianne A. Serovich
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Correspondence to Sandra J. Reed.

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O’Connell, A.A., Reed, S.J. & Serovich, J.A. The Efficacy of Serostatus Disclosure for HIV Transmission Risk Reduction. AIDS Behav 19, 283–290 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-014-0848-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-014-0848-2

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