title: Decisions About Testing for HIV While in a Relationship: Perspectives From an Urban, Convenience Sample of HIV-Negative Male Couples Who Have a Sexual Agreement.
abstract: Many HIV-negative male couples establish a sexual agreement to help manage their HIV risk; however, less is known about their decisions about testing in this context. The present study examined whether male couples discussed HIV testing and explored their decisions about testing in the context of their sexual agreement at the individual- and couple-levels. Qualitative dyadic interview data were collected from 29 HIV-negative male couples with a sexual agreement who resided in Atlanta or Detroit; the sample was stratified by agreement type. Content analysis revealed male couples' decisions about HIV testing as routine, self-assurance, reliance and assumption on partner, beginning of relationship testers, and/or trust; decisions varied between partners and by agreement type. Findings suggest prevention efforts should help male couples integrate HIV testing into their sexual agreement that matches their agreement type and associated HIV-related risk behavior, and help shift their one-sided decisions about testing to a couple's mutually shared decision.
authors: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA. jwm35@med.miami.edu.
authors: Jason W
authors: JW
authors: Mitchell
authors: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
authors: Ji-Young
authors: JY
authors: Lee
authors: Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors: Cory
authors: C
authors: Woodyatt
authors: Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health and The Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors: José
authors: J
authors: Bauermeister
authors: Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Sullivan
authors: Department of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences, School of Nursing and The Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors: Rob
authors: R
authors: Stephenson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV prevention; HIV-negative male couples; Sexual agreements; Sexual orientation