HIV STATUS DISCLOSURE AMONG INFECTED MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN (MSM) IN BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

• Published in: AIDS education and prevention 2013-12, Vol.25 (6), p.457-467
• Main Authors: CARBALLO-DIEGUEZ, Alex, BALAN, Iván C, DOLEZAL, Curtis, IBITOYE, Mobolaji, PANDO, María A, MARONE, Rubén, BARREDA, Victoria, AVILA, María Mercedes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; Adolescent; Adult; AIDS; AIDS/HIV; Argentina; Biological and medical sciences; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Disclosure; Family (Sociological Unit); Gays & lesbians; General aspects; Health; Health Surveys; HIV; HIV Seropositivity - diagnosis; HIV Seropositivity - psychology; Homosexuality; Homosexuality, Male - psychology; Homosexuals; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunodeficiencies; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunopathology; Infectious diseases; Interpersonal Relations; Interviews; Male; Males; Marriage; Medical sciences; Men; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Minority Groups; Planification. Prevention (methods). Intervention. Evaluation; Principals; Psychiatry; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Self Disclosure; Sexual Behavior; Sexual behaviour; Sexual Orientation; Sexual Partners - psychology; Sexually transmitted diseases; Social Attitudes; Social Behavior; Social Environment; Social Networks; Social Support; Socioeconomic Factors; Socioeconomic Status; Socioeconomics; STD; Surveys and Questionnaires; Truth Disclosure; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0899-9546; 1943-2755
• DOI: 10.1521/aeap.2013.25.6.457

Five hundred men who have sex with men were recruited in Buenos Aires using respondent driven sampling. Of them, 46 respondents (24 of them not gay identified) who were HIV infected were asked questions on serodisclosure. The sample was characterized by indicators of low socioeconomic status. Most of the respondents reported being in good to excellent health despite 42% of them having been diagnosed with AIDS. Only 10% of respondents had not disclosed their serostatus to at least one person. Coworkers and lovers or main sexual partners were those most likely to know the respondents' serostatus. Reactions to disclosure were for the most part supportive. Those who had not disclosed anticipated less favorable reactions than those who had disclosed. No significant differences were observed between gay and non-gay identified respondents. The progressive social environment of Argentina that includes federal laws recognizing gay marriage may contribute to create a climate favorable for serostatus disclosure.