Disclosure of HIV Status to Sexual Partners: Predictors and Temporal Patterns

Abstract

Failure to disclose human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection to sexual partners interferes with risk reduction. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with disclosure and failure to disclose HIV infection to sexual partners and to describe condom use with nondisclosure. A longitudinal survey study of HIV seropositive persons recruited at a public STD clinic. Approximately 76% of the study population (n = 147) reported disclosing their HIV status to their last sex partner at baseline. Predictors of disclosure included consistent condom use and being in a monogamous relationship. Twenty-two percent of those who disclosed at baseline reported nondisclosure during follow-up. Approximately 23% reported not using a condom with a person to whom their status was not disclosed. These results suggest that ongoing partner notification may be necessary to increase disclosure of HIV status to sex partners over time.