Formation of personal HIV disclosure policies among HIV-positive men who have sex with men.

Full Abstract

Given the increasing emphasis on "prevention with positives" programs designed to promote HIV transmission risk reduction among people living with HIV/AIDS, better understanding of influences upon serostatus disclosure in sexual situations is needed. Based on grounded theory analyses of individual interviews, this exploratory research hypothesizes and interprets how 15 HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) formed personal HIV disclosure policies for sexual situations. Participants described five elements influencing development of their personal policies, including: (1) making sense of having been infected, (2) envisioning sex as an HIV-positive man, (3) sorting through feelings of responsibility for others, (4) responding to views of friends and the gay community, and (5) anticipating reactions and consequences of disclosure. The article concludes with implications for current initiatives for prevention with positives.

Author information

Author/s: Rutledge, Scott Edward (SE);

Affiliation: College of Health Professions and Social Work, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122-6091, USA. srutled(-atsign-)temple.edu

Grants: T32MH20010 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: AIDS patient care and STDs (AIDS Patient Care STDS), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Jul; vol 23 (issue 7) : pp 531-43

Dates: Created 2009/07/22; Completed 2009/10/01;

PMID: 19621994, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 10/1/2009)

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