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AIDS and Behavior
Published in: AIDS and Behavior 6/2013

01-07-2013 | Original Paper

Undetectable Viral Load and the Decision to Engage in Unprotected Anal Intercourse Among HIV-Positive MSM

Authors: Wijnand Van Den Boom, Ineke G. Stolte, Robert Witlox, Theo Sandfort, Maria Prins, Udi Davidovich

Published in: AIDS and Behavior | Issue 6/2013

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Abstract

We investigated how often HIV-positive MSM (n = 177) decide to engage in unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) because they have an undetectable viral load (UVL). We found that 20–57 % of the UAI acts were related to having UVL, varying by partner type and partner HIV status. Among HIV-concordant partners, consideration of UVL before engaging in UAI was more prevalent with sex buddies (55 %) than with casual partners (20 %), although marginally significant (p = 0.051). Among HIV-discordant partners, no significant difference was found in the frequency of UVL considerations before engaging in UAI: 40 % with sex buddies versus 57 % with casual partners. Interestingly, while the decision to engage in UAI based on UVL was frequently discussed with HIV-concordant partners (>91 %), it was only discussed with HIV-discordant partners in 13–25 % of the UAI cases (according to partner type), suggesting that the decision was mostly unilateral.
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Metadata
Title
Undetectable Viral Load and the Decision to Engage in Unprotected Anal Intercourse Among HIV-Positive MSM
Authors
Wijnand Van Den Boom
Ineke G. Stolte
Robert Witlox
Theo Sandfort
Maria Prins
Udi Davidovich
Publication date
01-07-2013
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
AIDS and Behavior / Issue 6/2013
Print ISSN: 1090-7165
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3254
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-013-0453-9

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