Socio-Demographic Correlates of HIV Sero-Discordance among Couples in West Bengal, India: a Cross Sectional Analysis.

Abstract

Serodiscordant couples serve as potential sources of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. Understanding the demographic dynamics of serodiscordant couples plays an important role in tailoring interventions to eliminate HIV infection. We conducted this cross-sectional analysis among 314 integrated counseling and testing centers in West Bengal, India, from April 2016 to March 2020. General individuals who were detected as HIV-reactive and whose spouses were also tested for HIV comprised the study population, in which a total of 8,740 couples were included. Sociodemographic variables were compared across concordant and discordant arms, as well as between male positive (M+ F-) and female positive (F+ M-) subgroups of serodiscordant couples. Among the couples studied, 35.2% (95% CI: 34.2-36.2%) were serodiscordant. Among serodiscordant couples, the proportion of M+ F- (86.1%) was significantly higher than that of F+ M- (13.9%). We observed that higher mean ages of couples, higher education, business and service occupations, and urban residence were significantly associated with the serodiscordance relationship (P < 0.05). A high mean age of couples and a low proportion of housewives were associated with the F+ M- subgroup. As approximately 35% of serodiscordant couples carry the risk of transmission to negative spouses, particularly in older age and urban residence, reorientation of HIV programs may be required to avert transmission in the future.