Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (Mar 2014)

Safety and Acceptability of Couples HIV Testing and Counseling for US Men Who Have Sex with Men

  • Patrick S. Sullivan DVM, PhD,
  • Darcy White MPH,
  • Eli S. Rosenberg PhD,
  • Jasper Barnes MBA,
  • Jeb Jones MPH, MS,
  • Sharoda Dasgupta MPH,
  • Brandon O’Hara MPH,
  • Lamont Scales MA,
  • Laura F. Salazar PhD,
  • Gina Wingood ScD, MPH,
  • Ralph DiClemente PhD,
  • Kristin M. Wall PhD,
  • Colleen Hoff PhD,
  • Beau Gratzer MPP,
  • Susan Allen MD,
  • Rob Stephenson PhD

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/2325957413500534
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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We tested a couples HIV testing and counseling (CHTC) intervention with male couples in Atlanta by randomizing eligible couples to receive either CHTC or separate individual voluntary HIV counseling and testing (iVCT). To evaluate the acceptability and safety of CHTC, main outcomes were satisfaction with the intervention and the proportions of couples reporting intimate partner violence (IPV) and relationship dissolution after the service. The results indicated that the service was very acceptable to men (median 7-item index of satisfaction was 34 for CHTC and 35 for iVCT, P = .4). There was no difference in either incident IPV (22% versus 17% for CHTC and iVCT, respectively, P = .6) or relationship dissolution (42% versus 51% for CHTC and iVCT, respectively, P = .5). Based on the preliminary data, CHTC is safe for male couples, and it is equally acceptable to iVCT for men who have main partners.