Negotiating sexual safety in the era of biomedical HIV prevention

Relationship dynamics among male couples using pre-exposure prophylaxis

Bibliographic Data

ID15098272
AuthorsJowanna Malone (0000-0002-2846-0012, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA), Jennifer Syvertsen (0000-0002-2387-7273, The Ohio State University), Jennifer L Syvertsen (The Ohio State University), Blake E Johnson (0000-0002-3636-897X, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA), Matthew J Mimiaga (0000-0001-9256-2905, Departments of Behavioral & Social Health Sciences and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA), Kenneth H Mayer (0000-0001-7460-733X, The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA), Angela R Bazzi (0000-0001-6828-1919, Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston MA, USA, corresponding author)
Year2018
Volume20
Issue6
Pages658-672
Publication date2018-06-03
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueCulture Health & Sexuality (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1369-1058 • E-ISSN: 1464-5351
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13691058.2017.1368711
PMID28872441
OpenAlexW2752845219
LanguageEN
Citations received28
References cited46

Up to two-thirds of new cases of HIV transmission between gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in the USA are attributed to primary relationships. Understanding the relationship dynamics and sexual agreements of male-male couples can provide insight into HIV transmission patterns and prevention needs in this population. The daily use of antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective in preventing HIV, but its negotiation and use within social and intimate relationship contexts remain understudied. We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 20 male couples (n = 40 men) in which at least one partner was either using or in the process of initiating PrEP. Congruent with a theoretical focus on social theories of relationships and negotiated risk, couples were interviewed about relationship dynamics, trust, communication and sexual health practices, including their perception and use of PrEP. Overall, we found that couples showed heightened trust and communication when establishing open, sexual agreements and demonstrated high awareness of sexual risks and health practices in the context of PrEP use. This study demonstrates how understanding relationship dynamics can better inform HIV prevention and sexual health promotion efforts for male couples at risk of HIV

Context (archaeology · Developmental psychology · Environmental health · Family medicine · Focus group · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV · Men who have sex with men · Negotiation · Political science · Population · Pre-exposure prophylaxis · Qualitative research · Reproductive health · Sociology · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology

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