Disclosure of HIV status to sexual partners: predictors and temporal patterns

• Published in: Sexually transmitted diseases Vol. 26; no. 5; p. 281
• Main Authors: Niccolai, L M, Dorst, D, Myers, L, Kissinger, P J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.1999
• Subjects: Adult; Behavior Therapy; Condoms; Contact Tracing; Data Collection; Female; HIV Infections - prevention & control; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Risk Factors; Sexual Partners; Truth Disclosure; Americas; Condom; United States; Viral Diseases; Urban Population; North America; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Population Characteristics; Contraceptive Methods; Population; Research Report; Behavior; Demographic Factors; Interpersonal Relations; Risk Reduction Behavior; Contraception; Barrier Methods; Hiv Infections; Family Planning; Diseases; Partner Communication > determinants; Northern America; Developed Countries; Louisiana; Sex Behavior; Sexual Partners
• ISSN: 0148-5717; 1537-4521
• DOI: 10.1097/00007435-199905000-00008

Failure to disclose human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection to sexual partners interferes with risk reduction. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with disclosure and failure to disclose HIV infection to sexual partners and to describe condom use with nondisclosure. A longitudinal survey study of HIV seropositive persons recruited at a public STD clinic. Approximately 76% of the study population (n = 147) reported disclosing their HIV status to their last sex partner at baseline. Predictors of disclosure included consistent condom use and being in a monogamous relationship. Twenty-two percent of those who disclosed at baseline reported nondisclosure during follow-up. Approximately 23% reported not using a condom with a person to whom their status was not disclosed. These results suggest that ongoing partner notification may be necessary to increase disclosure of HIV status to sex partners over time.