title: Safety and acceptability of couples HIV testing and counseling for US men who have sex with men: a randomized prevention study.
abstract: We tested a couples HIV testing and counseling (CHTC) intervention with male couples in Atlanta by randomizing eligible couples to receive either CHTC or separate individual voluntary HIV counseling and testing (iVCT). To evaluate the acceptability and safety of CHTC, main outcomes were satisfaction with the intervention and the proportions of couples reporting intimate partner violence (IPV) and relationship dissolution after the service. The results indicated that the service was very acceptable to men (median 7-item index of satisfaction was 34 for CHTC and 35 for iVCT, P = .4). There was no difference in either incident IPV (22% versus 17% for CHTC and iVCT, respectively, P = .6) or relationship dissolution (42% versus 51% for CHTC and iVCT, respectively, P = .5). Based on the preliminary data, CHTC is safe for male couples, and it is equally acceptable to iVCT for men who have main partners.
authors.affiliation: Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Darcy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Eli S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: Jasper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: Jeb
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Sharoda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dasgupta
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: O'Hara
authors.forename: Lamont
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scales
authors.forename: Laura F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Salazar
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wingood
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: DiClemente
authors.forename: Kristin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hoff
authors.forename: Beau
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gratzer
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stephenson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013179:Spouse Abuse; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV; male couples; men who have sex with men; testing services