NEWS: Disclosure of HIV Status More Likely If Partner Met Over Internet

The findings were reported Friday at the 12th Annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Boston.



A team led by Dr. Mary Chiasson, of the Medical and Health Research Association of New York City, studied 1,707 MSM from the United States and Canada who had sex in the previous three months with a new or casual partner. Participants in the study answered questions online about their most recent sexual encounter, during which 28 percent reported unprotected anal intercourse (UAI).



Of the men whose last encounter involved UAI with a single partner, 30 percent met the partner online, versus 25 percent meeting elsewhere. The men in this group were also more likely to disclose their HIV status to partners they met online than to those they met offline (53 percent versus 35 percent).



Of those reporting recent UAI with multiple partners during their most recent sexual encounter, 25 percent arranged it online, while 32 percent arranged it offline. These men were also more likely to disclose their HIV status with partners they met online (57 percent) versus offline (45 percent).