Seroconcordant sexual partnerings of HIV-seropositive men who have sex with men

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the sexual behaviors of HIV-positive men with their seroconcordant partners and to determine the factors associated with unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) in these sexual partnerings.

Methods: The data were drawn from the baseline assessment of a randomized controlled intervention study of 1168 HIV-positive men who have sex with men recruited from mainstream gay venues, AIDS service organizations, and public/commercial sex environments.

Results: Of the 1168 men, 596 engaged in sexual experiences with other HIV-positive men, and 371 of the 596 (62%) practised UAI with their seroconcordant partners. Those who engaged in UAI expressed less self-evaluation with regard to their unsafe sexual practices, had higher levels of hedonism associated with unsafe sex, and were more likely both to inject recreation drugs and use methamphetamine in particular. Furthermore, these participants expressed less concern with regard to HIV re-infection, infection with other sexually transmitted infections, and the transmission of pathogens causing opportunistic infections.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that at least three sets of factors predispose HIV-positive men to engage in unsafe anal sexual behaviors with their concordant partners: a decreased belief that infection with other pathogens or re-infection with HIV present health problems; less evaluation of sexual activities and behaviors; more hedonistic expectations of sex and higher levels of sexual compulsivity, as well as recreational drug use with and without sex.