Disclosure of HIV status to sexual partners: Predictors and temporal patterns

Background and Objectives: Failure to disclose human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection to sexual partners interferes with risk reduction, Goal of this Study: The purpose of this study was to identify factors assoc iated with disclosure and failure to disclose HIV infection to sexual partn ers and to describe condom use with nondisclosure, Study Design: A longitudinal survey study of HIV seropositive persons recru ited at a public STD clinic. Results: Approximately 76% of the study population (n = 147) reported discl osing their HIV status to their last sex partner at baseline. Predictors of disclosure included consistent condom use and being in a monogamous relati onship, Twenty-two percent of those who disclosed at baseline reported nond isclosure during follow-up, Approximately 23% reported not using a condom w ith a person to whom their status was not disclosed. Conclusions: These results suggest that ongoing partner notification may be necessary to increase disclosure of HIV status to sex partners over time.