title: Seek, Test and Disclose: knowledge of HIV testing and serostatus among high-risk couples in a South African township.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  HIV testing and disclosure of results to partners is an important strategy in HIV prevention but is under-researched within heterosexual partnerships. To address this gap, we describe patterns of HIV testing, discrepancies between beliefs and biologically confirmed HIV status of each partner, and characteristics of mutually correct knowledge of HIV status among heterosexual couples in a high-prevalence community.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study recruited 290 high-risk heterosexual couples in stable relationships from a township in Cape Town, South Africa. Male patrons of shebeens (drinking establishments) were approached to participate with their main partner in an intervention designed to reduce substance use, violence and unsafe sex. All participants were tested for HIV at baseline and asked about their partner's past HIV testing and current status. Using the couple as the unit of analysis, we conducted logistic regression to identify partnership and individual characteristics associated with having mutually correct knowledge of partner's HIV status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Half (52%) of women and 41% of men correctly knew whether their partner had ever been tested for HIV. 38% of women, 28% of men and in 17% of couples, both members reported mutually correct knowledge of their partner's HIV status. Correlates of correct knowledge included married/cohabitating (aOR 2.69, 95% CI 1.35 to 5.40), both partners HIV-negative (aOR 3.32 (1.38 to 8.00)), women's acceptance of traditional gender roles (aOR 1.17 (1.01 to 1.40)) and men's relationship satisfaction (aOR 2.22 (1.01 to 4.44)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings highlight the need to improve HIV testing uptake among men and to improve HIV disclosure among women in heterosexual partnerships.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov registration NCT01121692.
authors.affiliation: Substance Abuse Treatment Evaluation & Interventions, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Irene A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.affiliation: Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drug Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Bronwyn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.affiliation: Substance Abuse Treatment Evaluation & Interventions, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Zule
authors.affiliation: Substance Abuse Treatment Evaluation & Interventions, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Alexandra M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Minnis
authors.affiliation: Substance Abuse Treatment Evaluation & Interventions, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Tracy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Kline
authors.affiliation: Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drug Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Charles D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, School of Social Work, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Nabila
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: El-Bassel
authors.affiliation: Substance Abuse Treatment Evaluation & Interventions, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA Department of Psychology in the Public Interest, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Wendee M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Wechsberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D044383:Black People; D003144:Communication Barriers; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014754:Violence
keywords: AFRICA; GENDER; HIV TESTING; PARTNER NOTIFICATION; SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR