Psychopathology and intimate partner violence victimization associated with HIV disclosure among HIV-positive men who have sex with men

Background: HIV continues to disproportionately affect men who have sex with men (MSM).  Depression and substance abuse have been shown to be risk factors of intimate partner violence (IPV) among male same-sex couples.  The interconnectivity of IPV, HIV status and HIV disclosure has been shown.  However, studies examining the risk factors for IPV victimization after HIV disclosure among MSM populations are lacking. 

Objective: To determine the association between psychopathology (depression and substance use) and IPV victimization associated with HIV disclosure to partners among HIV-positive MSM.

Methods: Data were obtained from 340 HIV-positive MSM.  Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the associations between depression, using Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scores and substance use scores, and IPV victimization after HIV disclosure.

Results: Approximately 72% of the sample met criteria for being at risk for clinical depression (CES-D >16) and 6% reported IPV victimization associated with HIV disclosure.  After adjusting for age, every one-unit increase in CES-D and substance use scores, resulted in a 4% (OR=1.04; 95% CI: 1.01 – 1.08) and 10% (OR=1.10; 95% CI: 1.03 – 1.18) increase in the odds of experiencing IPV victimization associated with HIV disclosure, respectively.  Further adjustment for income attenuated the associations for depression so that the confidence intervals included unity (OR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.99 – 1.06), and for substance use, which remained statistically significant (OR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.01 – 1.16).

Conclusions: HIV disclosure interventions geared towards MSM populations should address depression and substance use, and include additional resources to address IPV victimization.