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Relationship Factors Associated with HIV Risk Among a Sample of Gay Male Couples

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Abstract

More HIV prevention research is needed to better understand how relationship factors may affect sexual risk behaviors among gay male couples. Our cross-sectional study collected dyadic data from 144 gay male couples to examine which relationship factors and characteristics were associated with men having UAI with a secondary sex partner. We targeted male couples by using a variety of recruitment strategies. Multilevel random-effects logistic regression modeling was used to examine which factors were predictive of men in gay couples who had UAI with a secondary sex partner. Analyses revealed that men were less likely to have had UAI with a secondary sex partner if they reported being in a strictly monogamous relationship, receiving an HIV test within the previous 3 months, and being committed to their sexual agreement. Future HIV prevention interventions must consider how relationship factors may influence sexual risk behaviors among gay male couples.

Resumen

Mas investigación de prevención de VIH es necesario para entender mejor como los factores de relaciones de pareja pueden afectar los comportamientos de riesgo sexual en parejas de hombres gay. Nuestro estudio de diseño transversal recogió datos diádicos en una muestra de 144 parejas gay para examinar que factores y características de relación de pareja están asociadas con hombres gay teniendo sexo anal desprotegido con parejas secundaria. Nosotros encontramos parejas de hombres gay usando varias estrategias de reclutamiento. Modelaje con una regresión logística a multinivel para efectos al azar fue usado para examinar los factores que predicen los hombres en relaciones de pareja gay que tienen sexo anal desprotegido con una pareja sexual secundaria. El análisis revelo que era menos probable que los hombres tuvieran sexo anal desprotegido con parejas sexuales secundarias si ellos reportaban ser estrictamente monógamos en sus relaciones de pareja, haber recibido una prueba de VIH en los últimos tres meses o estar comprometidos al acuerdo sexual con su pareja principal. Futuras intervenciones para la prevención de VIH deben considerar la forma en que factores de pareja pueden influir el comportamiento de riesgo sexual en parejas de hombres gay.

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Acknowledgments

This manuscript was supported by the center (P30-MH52776) and NRSA (T32-MH19985) grants from the National Institute of Mental Health. Special thanks are extended to the participants for their time and effort.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, 2071 North Summit Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, USA

    Jason W. Mitchell & David W. Seal

  2. Department of Public Health, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA

    S. Marie Harvey & Donna Champeau

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  1. Jason W. Mitchell
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  2. S. Marie Harvey
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Correspondence to Jason W. Mitchell.

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Mitchell, J.W., Harvey, S.M., Champeau, D. et al. Relationship Factors Associated with HIV Risk Among a Sample of Gay Male Couples. AIDS Behav 16, 404–411 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-011-9976-0

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