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.

Male couples represent a high priority group for HIV prevention interventions because primary partners have been identified as the source of one-third to two-thirds of HIV infections among MSM. HIV testing is an important component of the U.S National AIDS Strategy. In previous research rates of HIV testing among partnered MSM have been found to be lower compared to other MSM. In this paper, we use a sample of 906 MSM recruited through internet advertisements to contrast HIV testing behavior, perceived risk of HIV infection and confidence in remaining HIV sero-negative between single MSM and MSM who report having a main partner. We also examine associations between sexual agreements and HIV testing and perceived risk among partnered MSM. Although results were marginally significant, men with a main partner had significantly higher odds of perceiving zero risk of HIV infection, higher odds of being very confident they will remain HIV-negative, and lower odds of testing for HIV in the past 6 months. Partnered men who reported they were in an open relationship had higher odds of recent HIV testing, lower odds of perceiving zero risk, and lower odds of being very confident in remaining HIV-negative, relative to those who reported monogamy. The results point to the need for dyadic interventions to tackle the underestimation of potential risk associated low HIV testing among partnered MSM. Couples HIV Testing and Counseling – CHTC – affords male couples the opportunity to learn their sero-status together and discuss the realities of their agreement and relationship and should be considered a priority intervention for male couples in the U.S.

Objective: This study examines the distribution of selected sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in older people (aged >45 years) attending genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in the West Midlands, UK. Methods: Analysis of data from the regional enhanced STI surveillance system for the period 1996-2003. Selected STIs were chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, gonorrhoea and syphilis. Results: Altogether, 4445 STI episodes were reported among older people during the study period. Between 1996 and 2003 older people accounted for 3.7% and 4.3%, respectively, of all GUM clinic attendances. The rate of STIs in older people more than doubled in 2003 compared with 1996 (p,0.0001). Rates for all five selected diagnoses were significantly higher in 2003 compared to 1996. A significantly increasing trend over time was seen overall (p,0.0001) and for each of the selected diagnoses. Overall, males and those aged 55-59 years of age were significantly more likely to be affected. Conclusions: This study provides evidence of significant increases in attendance at GUM clinics by older people. Although it is recognised that young people should remain the focus of sexual health programmes, the results indicate that sexual risk-taking behaviour is not confined to young people but also occurs among older people. There is therefore a need to develop and implement evidence-based multifaceted sexual health programmes that while aiming to reduce STI transmission among all age groups should include interventions aimed specifically at older people and address societal and healthcare attitudes, myths and assumptions about sexual activity among older people.

Despite decades of policies and programs aimed at improving reproductive health worldwide, high maternal morbidity and mortality persist in many resource-poor settings, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. [1][2][3] The predominant approach to mitigating this problem has been to target the knowledge, attitudes and practices of women of reproductive age and to strengthen health service provision. Although educating and designing services for women is undoubtedly important, this focus assumes that women have control over their maternal health care decisions. Evidence from diverse settings, however, indicates that women often have only partial, if any, autonomy over their reproductive and sexual health. [4][5][6][7][8] Not only do husbands have a significant influence on the behavior and actions of their wife, 7,9,10 but other household members, especially mothers-in-law, also exert control over younger women. 5,[11][12][13] Maternal morbidity and mortality are largely preventable through the provision of antenatal care, institutional delivery and timely postnatal care. 8,[14][15][16][17] 7,12,23 in some settings, substantial gaps in coverage remain even after adjustment for the availability of services. Accordingly, researchers and program planners have begun to appreciate the complexity of contextual influences on maternal health practices, and have adopted an approach that recognizes that individual attitudes and behaviors are products of their social and cultural environments. 24,25 Still, most studies have focused exclusively on women as the target population, and have aimed to understand and influence barriers and facilitators from their perspective. This narrow focus is incongruent with a sociocultural context in which women hold low status and are subject to the preferences and beliefs of their husband and elder relatives. 26-28Interpersonal power, however, has proven difficult to measure, such that power dynamics within a household and how they influence decisions on maternal health are not fully understood. 6,[29][30][31] To address this gap, we explored the link between household power dynamics and the maternal health behaviors of married women in rural Mali. Specifically, this article examines the relative influence of the preferences and beliefs of women, their hus- METHODS Data and SettingData for this analysis were drawn from the Projet Espoir Baseline Survey (PEBS), which was conducted between June and July 2011 in Bandiagara and Bankass, two rural districts of central Mali's Mopti region. This article contributes to the project's larger goal of identifying and addressing underlying social determinants of poor maternal health in rural Mali. Ethical approval was obtained from the institutional review boards at Emory University and the Malian Ministry of Health. The Mopti region is predominantly rural and agricultural, and has the lowest levels of education in the country. 51Although men and women in the region have roughly equal educational profiles overall, among younger cohorts, educational attainm...

BackgroundMen who have sex with men (MSM) continue to be disproportionately impacted by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic in the United States (US). Testing for HIV is the cornerstone of comprehensive prevention efforts and the gateway to early engagement of infected individuals in medical care. We sought to determine attitudes towards six different HIV testing modalities presented collectively to internet-using MSM and identify which options rank higher than others in terms of intended usage preference.MethodsBetween October and November 2012, we surveyed 973 HIV-negative or -unknown status MSM and assessed their acceptability of each of the following services hypothetically offered free of charge: Testing at a physician’s office; Individual voluntary counseling and testing (VCT); Couples’ HIV counseling and testing (CHCT); Expedited/express testing; Rapid home self-testing using an oral fluid test; Home dried blood spot (DBS) specimen self-collection for laboratory testing. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to determine whether the stated likelihood of using each of these modalities differed by selected respondent characteristics. Men were also asked to rank these options in order of intended usage preference, and consensual rankings were determined using the modified Borda count (MBC) method.ResultsMost participants reported being extremely likely or somewhat likely to use all HIV testing modalities except DBS self-collection for laboratory testing. Younger MSM indicated greater acceptability for expedited/express testing (P < 0.001), and MSM with lower educational levels reported being more likely to use CHCT (P < 0.001). Non-Hispanic black MSM indicated lower acceptability for VCT (P < 0.001). Rapid home self-testing using an oral fluid test and testing at a physician’s office were the two most preferred options across all demographic and behavioral strata.ConclusionsNovel approaches to increase the frequency of HIV testing among US MSM are urgently needed. Combination testing packages could enable high risk MSM in putting together annual testing strategies personalized to their circumstances, and warrant due consideration as an element of combination HIV prevention packages.