Serodiscordance predictors among couples in the HIV context: implications for health care

• Main Authors: Marcela Antonini (Author), Priscila Silva Pontes (Author), Elizabete Santos Melo (Author), Regina de Souza Alves (Author), Elucir Gir (Author), William Sorensen (Author), Renata Karina Reis (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2021-10-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1186/s12889-021-11835-0; 1471-2458
• Keywords: HIV infections / transmission; HIV infections / prevention & control; Sexual behavior; Counseling; Sexual health; Sexual partners; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: BMC Public Health, Vol 21, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2021)

Abstract Background After HIV diagnosis, people maintain, reestablish their sexual lives, or build new relationships, often with HIV seronegative partners. Therefore, understanding the factors concerning couple-vulnerability is essential in order to design effective HIV preventive strategies. We examined HIV serodiscordant couples prevalence and their associated factors from a Brazilian city. Methods This is a cross-sectional analytical study carried out with people living with HIV (PLHIV) who had an active sex life and were engagement in HIV health care follow-up. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire during individual interviews. We analyzed data using bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses. Results There was 72.0% of HIV serodiscordant partnerships. Those who inconsistently used condoms (aOR: 0.3[0.13-0.7]) and/or had HIV detectable viral load (aOR: 0.29 [0.12-0.7]) were less likely to have an HIV serodiscordant sexual partner. On other hand, the lack of HIV transmission counseling by the health service (aOR: 5.08 [2.02-12.76]), or those who had a casual partner (aOR: 8.12 [1.7-38.8]) or a steady and casual one concomitantly (aOR: 24.82 [1.46-420.83]), were more likely to indicate an HIV serodiscordant partnership. Conclusion The findings showed a high prevalence of serodiscordant partnerships in PLHIV. Greater visibility among couples in the health services is needed as well as a reassessment in order to provide PLHIV and their sexual partners with care strategies, by the health professionals.