Abstract Gay men in relationships are often overlooked HIV prevention efforts, yet many engage sexual behaviors that increase their risk and some seroconvert as a result. While different aspects of gay male have been studied, such agreements, relationship characteristics, couple serostatus, little research combines these elements to examine for this population. The present study recruited 566 couples from the San Francisco Bay Area motivations behind making other agreement investment,...

Understanding situations that increase HIV risk among men who have sex with (MSM) requires consideration of the context in which risky behaviors occur. Relationships are one such context. This study examines presence and predictors unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) past 3 months 566 MSM couples. A majority couples allowed outside partners. Overall, 65% sample engaged UAI primary partner, including nearly half discordant Positive relationship factors, as attachment intimacy, were associated...

Three studies examined the conceptualization and assessment of health-related social control in marriage. Using a sample 100 couples, Study 1 tested idea that is best thought as exercise power close relationships. Results did not support this or Based on these results, 2 collected qualitative data from husbands wives via focus groups to explore use tactics couples change health behavior. indicated many reported by spouses are contained influence literature, marriage may be characterized an...

We conducted a mixed-methods study to examine serodiscordant and seroconcordant (HIV-positive/HIV-positive) male couples' PrEP awareness, concerns regarding health care providers offering the community, correlates of uptake by HIV-negative member couple.Qualitative sub-study included one-on-one interviews gain deeper understanding participants' awareness experiences with men who have sex (MSM). Quantitative analyses consisted cross-sectional in which participants were asked about likelihood...

Despite the important role of social relationships for health and wellbeing, little is known about how primary partners affect adherence to HIV care treatment. We qualitatively explored relationship dynamics partner support influence among couples from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Twenty-four heterosexual with at least one HIV-positive completed semi-structured interviews on topics including (intimacy or emotional closeness, communication, violence), experiences treatment HIV-related...

Power imbalances within sexual relationships have significant implications for HIV prevention in sub-Saharan Africa. Little is known about how power influences the quality of a relationship, which could be an important pathway leading to healthy behavior around HIV/AIDS. This paper uses data from 448 heterosexual couples (896 individuals) rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa who completed baseline surveys 2012 2014 as part couples-based intervention trial. Using actor-partner interdependence...

This article describes agreements gay male couples make about sex outside the relationship and how process of making those agreements, their perceived quality, varies depending on couple serostatus. Data include 191 recruited in San Francisco Bay Area from June to December 2004. Monogamous were reported by 56% participants concordant-negative, 47% concordant-positive, 36% discordant relationships. The remaining allowing with partners some form. Agreement quality was lowest among men Overall,...

Sexual agreements are ubiquitous among gay men. Lower levels of investment in these may be associated with breaking them or engaging risky sexual behavior. A scale was developed to measure agreement Qualitative data from 78 men committed relationships were analyzed inform item development, followed by quantitative analyses two larger samples (n = 380, n 1,001) assess construct, convergent, and discriminant validity. The Agreement Investment Scale (SAIS) is a psychometrically sound the level...

Young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with (YMSM) continue to be the group most heavily impacted by HIV in United States. Substantial evidence indicates that up two-thirds of new infections occur context a main partnership. Couples testing counseling (CHTC) has been shown promising effective strategy for increasing prevention uptake among male couples; however, YMSM are relationships may not yet developed efficacy, negotiation, communication skills navigate their relationship...

HIV infection is frequently transmitted within stable couple partnerships. In order to prevent acquisition in HIV-negative couples, as well improve coping couples with an HIV-positive diagnosis, it has been suggested that interventions be aimed at strengthening relationships, addition addressing individual behaviours. However, little known about factors influence relationships impact joint decision-making related HIV.We conducted qualitative in-depth interviews 40 pregnant women and male...

Couples-based HIV counseling and testing (CHCT) is a proven strategy to reduce the risk of transmission between partners, but uptake CHCT low. We describe study design randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed increase participation in sexual behavior for among heterosexual couples rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. hypothesize that rate will be higher lower intervention group as compared control. Heterosexual (N = 350 couples, 700 individuals) are being recruited participate couples-based...

Hegemonic masculine norms (HMN), which promote sexual risk-taking among males and the subordination of women, are believed to play a key role in HIV epidemic heterosexual couples South Africa (SA). Sexual communication self-efficacy (SCSE) (i.e., couple's confidence their ability communicate about prevention) may be leverage point for increasing prevention behaviors this population. We interviewed 163 sexually active Soweto, SA investigate association between SCSE, HMN, consistent condom...

Although couples HIV testing and counseling (CHTC) is effective for facilitating mutual disclosure linkage to care, uptake remains low. Using a randomized controlled design, we tested the efficacy of behavioral couples-based intervention aimed increase CHTC.The Vulindlela district KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Couples were recruited from community (eg, markets events). Couples excluded if serostatus had occurred. Both partners report being each other's primary partner relationship length was...

Gay male couples (N = 47) completed self-administered questionnaires at 2 time points (6 months apart) regarding their levels of general and HIV-specific social support sexual behavior. measured partner pertaining to HIV risk The sexual-risk-behavior outcome encapsulated monogamy, serostatus, unprotected anal sex for each partner. authors used an analytic approach that maintained the couple as unit analysis. General was inconsistent predictor However, reported greater engaged in less...

We investigated the influence of partner-provided HIV-specific and general social support on sexual risk behavior gay male couples with concordant, discordant, or serostatus-unknown outside partners. Participants were 566 from San Francisco Bay Area. was a consistent predictor for reduced unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) both concordant partners (all couple types) discordant unknown serostatus (concordant negative couples). General associated increased UAI positive (i.e., serosorting). Our...