title: Evidence of marked sexual behavior change associated with low HIV-1 seroconversion in 149 married couples with discordant HIV-1 serostatus: experience at an HIV counselling center in Zaire.
abstract: To determine the effect of an HIV-1 counselling program on 149 married Zairian couples with discordant HIV-1 serology, the rates of HIV-1 seroconversion and reported condom utilization have been observed during 382.4 person-years of follow-up (minimum follow-up time per couple of 6 months). Before determination of HIV-1 serostatus and counselling, less than 5% of these couples had ever used a condom. One month after notification of HIV-1 serostatus and counselling, 70.7% of couples reported using condoms during all episodes of sexual intercourse. At 18 months follow-up, 77.4% of the 140 couples still being followed reported continued use of condoms during all episodes of sexual intercourse. At the time of notification of HIV-1 serostatus, 18 couples experienced acute psychological distress. Home-based counselling by trained nurses resolved these difficulties in all but three couples who subsequently divorced. Intensive counselling following notification of HIV-1 serostatus led to low rates of HIV-1 seroconversion (3.1% per 100 person-years of observation) in Zairian married couples with discordant HIV-1 serostatus who voluntarily attended an HIV counselling center.
authors.affiliation: Projet SIDA, Department of Public Health, Kinshasa, Zaire.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamenga
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Ryder
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jingu
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mbuyi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mbu
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Behets
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Heyward
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003275:Contraceptive Devices, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D012731:Sex Counseling; D012725:Sexual Behavior