CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND SAFER SEX AMONG HIV-INFECTED MEN WITH HEMOPHILIA

the present study sought to inform future behavioural intervention eff orts by obtaining information from HIV-positive heterosexual men with haemophilia about their attitudes towards close relationships, attitud e towards risk reduction practices, and actual risk reduction practice s. HIV-infected males with haemophilia (n = 358) responded to a self-a dministered questionnaire. Men who reported being involved in a close relationship (n = 237) were compared with men who said that they were not involved in a close relationship (n = 121). Involved men were more likely than uninvolved men to agree that close relationships provide benefits such as physical intimacy and communication, and that these b enefits are important. Men who were not involved perceived more negati ve consequences of discussing HIV risk reduction with partners (includ ing partner rejection and negative emotional reactions) than did invol ved men and were more concerned about the potential negative consequen ces of risk reduction discussions. Involvement was associated with hav ing disclosed HIV-seropositivity and having discussed HIV risk reducti on. Risk reduction interventions for men with haemophilia who are not involved in close, sexual relationships should address positive and ne gative attitudes towards close relationships and towards discussing ri sk reduction. Interventions should emphasize communication skills and rehearsal of serostatus disclosure as well as of risk reduction discus sions.