Table 1 Characteristics of couples & main outcomes of couple HIV testing
Age of marital partners (in year) | Length of marriage (in years/months) | Couple-HIV Status | Main outcome of CVCT |
|---|---|---|---|
Couple 1: Man 32 yrs; woman 28 yrs | 4 yrs | Concordant couple | Supportive marriage; protectivesex; woman assertive on condoms. Man provides treatment support. |
Couple 2: Man 32 yrs; Woman 27 years | 4.6 yrs | Concordant couple | CVCT strengthened marital bond; man ‘sticks’ to his wife; alternate use of condoms. |
Couple 3: Man 36 yrs; Woman 29 years | 8 yrs | Concordant couple | Man refuses to use condoms; threatens wife with divorce; wife economically dependent on spouse. |
Couple 4: Man 26 yrs; Woman 22 years | 3.8 yrs | Concordant couple | Man felt “trapped” to test; CVCT empowered wife to form new treatment support social networks. |
Couple 5: Man 34 yrs; Woman 26 years | 2.6 yrs | Concordant couple | Initial cessation of sex after CVCT. Safe sex still a challenge. However, CVCT enabled woman create supportive social support networks. |
Couple 6: Man 23 yrs; Woman 20 years | 2.1 yrs | Concordant couple | Supportive couple; young couple struggling to balance between Protect tion & procreation. |
Couple 7: Man 34 yrs; Woman 26 years | 4.9 yrs | Concordant couple | Man felt “trapped” to test; but encourages wife to attend support group meetings. |
Couple 8: Man 26 yrs; Woman 22 years | 4 yrs | Discordant couple | Supportive couple; reproductive (woman HIV-) aspirations undermine safe sex. |
Couple 9: Man 28 yrs; Woman 23 years | 2.6 yrs | Discordant couple | Strong bond but man’s desire for (woman HIV-) sexual intimacy & child bearing affects safe sex practice. |
Couple 10: Man 46 yrs; Woman 29 years | 5.7 yrs | Discordant couple | Man refuses safe sex; he wants (woman HIV-) male child; HIV-negative woman fears infection & threatens divorce. |