Published July, 2013

HIV Treatment Optimism and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among HIV Positive African American Men Who Have Sex With Men, John L. Peterson et al., AIDS Education and Prevention (2012)

This study examines the association between HIV positive African American men who have sex with men's (MSM) optimism about their HIV status and their sexual risk behavior. Researchers found that participants who believed their treatment lowered the risk of infection were less motivated to use condoms with serodiscordant casual partners. They noted that motivation to use condoms may be undermined if HIV positive MSM believe their adherence to antiretroviral therapy reduces the likelihood of transmission. They encouraged providers to balance messages about HIV manageability with factual statements about the risk of HIV transmission even while on treatment.