title: Attitudes toward couples-based HIV counseling and testing among MSM in Cape Town, South Africa.
abstract: Couples-based voluntary HIV counseling and testing (CVCT) allows couples to receive their HIV test results together and has been demonstrated to be effective in reducing HIV transmission, increasing and sustaining condom use, and reducing sexual risk-taking among at-risk heterosexual couples. However, the acceptability of CVCT among MSM has yet to be evaluated in an African setting. The results from seven focus group discussions and 29 in-depth interviews conducted in Cape Town, South Africa exhibit overwhelmingly high acceptance of CVCT. Participants were attracted to the counseling components of the service, stating that these would allow for the couple to increase their commitment and to explore methods of how to effectively reduce their risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV in the presence of a trained counselor. These results suggest CVCT would be highly welcomed and could work to fill the significant lack of services available and accessible to MSM couples in Cape Town.
authors.affiliation: Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, #7025, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. rbsteph@sph.emory.edu
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stephenson
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rentsch
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Ayesha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McAdams-Mahmoud
authors.forename: Geoff
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jobson
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Struthers
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McIntyre
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D017144:Focus Groups; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035502:Trust; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult