UCSF

Most HIV cure studies remain in the early stage of investigation and may carry clinical risks to the participants and, in some cases, their partners. Surprisingly little sociobehavioral research has investigated the perceptions of couples-including HIV serodifferent couples-around HIV cure research, including factors that would influence recruitment and retention in trials. We conducted a qualitative study to explore perceptions of diverse HIV serodifferent partners in the United States. We recruited 10 diverse HIV serodifferent couples (20 participants). We found participants had learned to cope with the reality of HIV, including protections during sex, and ascribed both positive and negative meanings to an HIV cure. Partners expressed concern about each other's health and potentially caring for a sick partner and emphasized the importance of safety when participating in an HIV cure trial. They identified the need for partner protection measures during analytical treatment interruptions (ATIs) as an ethical imperative. Participants recounted experiences of HIV stigma due to being in HIV serodifferent relationships and viewed ATIs as leading to a detectable viral load, which could limit sexual expression, complicate disclosure decision making, and worsen HIV-related stigma. Our study's main contribution is to inform efforts to meaningfully engage diverse HIV serodifferent partners in HIV cure research in the United States. Our data suggest people with HIV make decisions to participate in research based on close ones in their life and underscore the critical importance of acknowledging relationship dynamics in decisions to participate in research.