Back to Search
Start Over
HIV testing, care, and treatment experiences among the steady male partners of female sex workers living with HIV in the Dominican Republic.
- Source :
- AIDS Care; Jun2016, Vol. 28 Issue 6, p699-704, 6p, 3 Charts
- Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Male steady partners of female sex workers (FSW) living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) represent a key population for treatment as prevention and/or pre-exposure prophylaxis interventions. This study uses data collected from male steady partners who were referred by FSW living with HIV participating in a multi-level HIV prevention and care intervention in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. We conducted a socio-behavioral survey and HIV testing with all men (nā=ā64) and 16 in-depth interviews with a sub-sample to obtain more depth. Thirty-five of the 64 participants were living with HIV; 27 were previously diagnosed and 8 were diagnosed during our study. As a result, 45% of men were members of sero-discordant sexual partnerships. Of men with no previous HIV diagnosis (nā=ā37), 15 had never been tested for HIV and nine had not been tested in the past two years. Ninety-three percent of men previously diagnosed with HIV reported receiving HIV care in the past 6 months and 78% were taking anti-retrovirals. Low HIV testing was partly due to men not feeling at risk for HIV, despite having an HIV-infected partner. Additionally, a lack of tailored care inhibited engagement in anti-retroviral treatment for those infected. HIV testing was low, highlighting a need for test-and-treat strategies. Men not living with HIV would benefit from regular testing and would be good candidates for pre-exposure prophylaxis. While almost all men who had been diagnosed with HIV were engaged in care and adherent to anti-retroviral therapy, future research should assess whether they are achieving optimal HIV outcomes for their health and prevention of ongoing transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 09540121
- Volume :
- 28
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- AIDS Care
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 114927624
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2016.1160027