Page 95 - ILIAS ATHANASIADIS AKA RO1

Yet these interactions have been under-studied and need to be

further examined. Interventions and studies concerning each of these

domains have generally been separate,

but need to be integrated, and the importance of relationships

between these two areas needs to be recognized.

HIV-positive men and their HIV-negative partners (n couples =91; n

individuals =182) simultaneously but independently completed

computerized questionnaires and HIV-positive men had blood drawn

for viral load.

A minority of couples (30 %) engaged in risk taking and/or strategic

positioning unprotected anal sex.

Results of multinomial logistic regression indicated that HIV-

negative partners’ levels of relationship commitment were positively

associated with the odds of engaging in strategic positioning sexual

behaviors.

For HIV-negative partners, reports of relationship intimacy, and

sexual satisfaction were negatively associated with odds of reporting

risk taking behavior.

In contrast, HIV-positive partners’ reported sexual satisfaction was

positively associated with odds of engaging in risk taking behavior.

Findings suggested that aspects of relational quality may be

differentially associated with sexual decision making for same-sex

male couples in serodiscordant relationships.