A profile of human immunodeficiency virus seroconcordant/serodiscordant couples

Abstract

Introduction:Heterosexual route is the most common mode of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission among married couples in India. The aim of the study was to determine HIV seroconcordance and serodiscordance among couples when one of the partners is HIV positive.Materials and Methods:A retrospective study which included HIV positive married cohabiting cases was carried out at the Department of Skin-VD, Medical College, Baroda. Detailed history of high-risk sexual behavior, blood transfusion (BT) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) was taken. All the cases were examined for the presence of STIs and all males were examined for circumcision. The spouses of these cases were tested for HIV to know the seroconcordance/serodiscordance.Results:A total of 66 HIV positive cases were studied which included 34 males and 32 females. Forty-five cases had seropositive spouses that consisted of 20 out of 34 HIV positive males and 25 out of 32 HIV positive females. History of STI was present in 13 cases. History of BT in one of the spouses was present in 15 of 45 seroconcordant couples while in 6 out of 21 serodiscordant couples. Among 34 HIV positive males, circumcision was present in 8 cases out of which 6 were serodiscordant.Discussion:About 68% concordance suggests continued intramarital transmission probably due to lack of spousal communication and late testing. In cases having transfusion transmitted HIV, seroconcordance rate was found to be high. Such cases are usually asymptomatic and hence tested late but continue to transmit HIV by unprotected sexual activity.

Socio-Demographic Correlates of HIV Sero-Discordance among Couples in West Bengal, India: a Cross Sectional Analysis

“…In this study, more than one third of couples were discordant and cumulatively they are older in age, mostly residing in urban areas. Similar proportion of serodiscordant couple had also been reported in other Indian studies (3,7). However, the discordant couple being older can be explained by decreased frequency of sexual interaction between the couples in question as age advances.…”

Social Support for People Living With Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

“…Spouses/partners were not the most mentioned people, probably as a result of AIDS, often occurring amongst couples with different HIV status, where there is a tendency of the not revealing the diagnosis to the spouse, due to stigma and fear of abandonment. 20 Another possibility would be that infection was contracted by the partner him/herself, which can weaken the bond and hinder the availability of social support available.…”

Social support as a correlate of depression among people living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria

“…The reason for the relatives not living in the same household, spouses/partners, relatives living in the same household, and friends being the most mentioned people, could be attributed to AIDS which might be occurring amongst couples with different HIV status, where there is a tendency of not revealing the diagnosis due to stigma and fear of abandonment 46 . Another reason could be that infection was contracted by the partner him/herself, which can weaken the bond and hinder the availability of social support available.…”