Relationship between depression and HIV status disclosure following recent HIV diagnosis among MSM

Background: Disclosure of HIV status with sexual partners is an important strategy for preventing HIV transmission and may help one cope with HIV results, but depression has the potential to inhibit disclosure. This study explored the relationship between depression and HIV disclosure to sexual partners among recently diagnosed men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods: We recruited 102 MSM who had been recently HIV-diagnosed at a community clinic in New York City. In a computer-assisted survey, participants reported on HIV disclosure (number and types of people to whom they disclosed in the three months following diagnosis), depression (Beck Depression Index), disclosure self-efficacy, and sexual behaviors (timeline follow-back). Among the 93 (91.2%) participants who were sexually active in the three months after diagnosis, we modeled the relationship between number of disclosure events to sexual partners and depression using Poisson regression. The model adjusted for age, race, number of sexual partners, disclosure self-efficacy, and having a primary partner. Results: Most participants (90.3%) shared their diagnosis with at least one person, including disclosure to friends (82.8%), family (37.6%) and sexual partners (65.6%). In the adjusted model, depression was negatively associated with more frequent disclosure to sexual partners (Rate Ratio_adj=0.69; 95%CI=0.48-0.99). Disclosing to sexual partners was not associated with frequency of unprotected sex. Conclusion: Many recently diagnosed MSM shared their status with sexual partners. However, participants with more depression symptoms disclosed to fewer partners. Addressing depression after diagnosis may help MSM disclose to their sexual partners and therefore contribute to secondary HIV prevention.