Published in:
01-01-2019
An Examination of Gay Couples’ Motivations to Use (or Forego) Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Expressed During Couples HIV Testing and Counseling (CHTC) Sessions
Authors:
Tyrel J. Starks, Kendell M. Doyle, Ore Shalhav, Steven A. John, Jeffrey T. Parsons
Published in:
Prevention Science
|
Issue 1/2019
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Abstract
While many gay couples perceive themselves to have little risk for HIV transmission, research estimates that 35–68% of new HIV infections are transmitted within main partnerships. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is recommended for those partnered gay and bisexual men (GBM) who engage in sex outside their primary relationship or who have an HIV-positive partner. There is reason to believe that couples’ sero-status and sexual agreement will shape perceptions of PrEP’s personal relevance among gay couples. The current study examined motivations for and ambivalence towards PrEP uptake reported in a sample of 67 gay couples during completion of a brief CDC-recommended prevention intervention: Couples HIV Testing and Counseling. Findings suggest that all types of couples identified some circumstances in which they would consider PrEP; however, PrEP messaging should be crafted to avoid undermining current prevention strategies or threatening the trust and legitimacy of the relationship.