Table 3.
Individual-level and couple-level reports of risk-reduction strategies used within HIV-negative concordant and HIV-discordant gay male couples’ relationships
| Sample size | Total sample | HIV-negative concordant | HIV-discordant | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| ||||||
| 666 MSM | 550 MSM | 116 MSM | ||||
|
| ||||||
| Risk-reduction strategy: Individual-level | N | % | N | % | N | % |
| Engagement of UAI | ||||||
| Pleasure > risk | 155 | 23 | 130 | 24 | 25 | 22 |
| Serosorting with or without withdrawal | -- | -- | 365 | 66 | -- | -- |
| Strategic positioning | -- | -- | -- | -- | 37 | 32 |
| Knowledge HIV+ person is on ARTs and/or has undetectable viral load | -- | -- | -- | -- | 28 | 24 |
| No UAI: Safer sex | ||||||
| Condoms always for anal sex | 127 | 19 | 83 | 15 | 44 | 38 |
| Oral sex only | 164 | 25 | 128 | 23 | 36 | 31 |
|
| ||||||
| Sample size | 333 couples | 275 couples | 58 couples | |||
|
|
||||||
| Clustering of strategies: Couple-level | N | % | N | % | N | % |
|
| ||||||
| Engagement of UAI | ||||||
| Did not use a strategy | 160 | 48 | 126 | 46 | 34 | 59 |
| Used 1 or more strategies a * | 173 | 52 | 149 | 54 | 24 | 41 |
| Used only 1 strategy b | 102 | 31 | 84 | 31 | 18 | 31 |
| Used 2 strategies b | 52 | 16 | 47 | 17 | 5 | 9 |
| Used 3 or more strategies b | 19 | 6 | 18 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| No UAI: Safer sex | ||||||
| Condoms always for anal sex *** | 27 | 8 | 12 | 4 | 15 | 27 |
| Oral sex only | 40 | 12 | 30 | 11 | 10 | 17 |
Notes.
Risk-reduction strategies that involved UAI within the relationship, included: serosorting with or without withdrawal for the HIV-negative couples; strategic positioning; and knowledge that HIV-positive partner is taking ARTs and/or has an undetectable viral load for the HIV-discordant couples; and valuing sexual pleasure more than risk (i.e., pleasure > risk) for both HIV-negative and discordant couples.
Row percentages are based on the total number of couples who self-reported using a risk reduction strategy for UAI within their relationship during the three months prior to assessment.
p < 0.05,
p < 0.01,
p < 0.001