HIV status disclosure among infected men who have sex with men (MSM) in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Five hundred men who have sex with men were recruited in Buenos Aires using respondent driven sampling. Of them, 46 respondents (24 of them not gay identified) who were HIV infected were asked questions on serodisclosure. The sample was characterized by indicators of low socioeconomic status. Most of the respondents reported being in good to excellent health despite 42% of them having been diagnosed with AIDS. Only 10% of respondents had not disclosed their serostatus to at least one person. Coworkers and lovers or main sexual partners were those most likely to know the respondents' serostatus. Reactions to disclosure were for the most part supportive. Those who had not disclosed anticipated less favorable reactions than those who had disclosed. No significant differences were observed between gay and non-gay identified respondents. The progressive social environment of Argentina that includes federal laws recognizing gay marriage may contribute to create a climate favorable for serostatus disclosure.Fil: Carballo Diéguez, Alex. HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies; Estados UnidosFil: Balan, Iván C.. HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies; Estados UnidosFil: Dolezal, Curtis. HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies; Estados UnidosFil: Ibitoye, Mobolaji. HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies; Estados UnidosFil: Pando, Maria de Los Angeles. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Microbiología. Centro Nacional de Referencia del Sida; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; ArgentinaFil: Marone, Ruben. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Microbiología. Centro Nacional de Referencia del Sida; Argentina. Nexo Asociación Civil; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; ArgentinaFil: Barreda, Victoria. Nexo Asociación Civil; ArgentinaFil: Avila, Maria Mercedes. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Microbiología. Centro Nacional de Referencia del Sida; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentin