title: Relationship Dynamics and Partner Beliefs About Viral Suppression: A Longitudinal Study of Male Couples Living with HIV/AIDS (The Duo Project).
abstract: Accurate beliefs about partners' viral suppression are important for HIV prevention and care. We fit multilevel mixed effects logistic regression models to examine associations between partners' viral suppression beliefs and objective HIV RNA viral load tests, and whether relationship dynamics were associated with accurate viral suppression beliefs over time. Male couples (N = 266 couples) with at least one HIV-positive partner on antiretroviral therapy completed five assessments over 2 years. Half of the 407 HIV-positive partners were virally suppressed. Of the 40 % who had inaccurate viral load beliefs, 80 % assumed their partner was suppressed. The odds of having accurate viral load beliefs decreased over time (OR = 0.83; p = 0.042). Within-couple differences in dyadic adjustment (OR = 0.66; p < 0.01) and commitment (OR = 0.82; p = 0.022) were negatively associated with accurate viral load beliefs. Beliefs about a partner's viral load may factor into sexual decision-making and social support. Couple-based approaches are warranted to improve knowledge of partners' viral load.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California - San Francisco, 550 16th Street 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA, USA. amy.conroy@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: Amy A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Conroy
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Kristi E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Gamarel
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California - San Francisco, 550 16th Street 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Torsten B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Neilands
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California - San Francisco, 550 16th Street 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Samantha E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Dilworth
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Lynae A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Darbes
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California - San Francisco, 550 16th Street 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Mallory O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D005191:Family Characteristics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012495:San Francisco; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D035502:Trust; D019562:Viral Load
keywords: Couples; HIV/AIDS; Partner beliefs; Relationship dynamics; Viral suppression