One partner can have a sexually transmitted disease (STD), such as HIV, while the other partner does not. When a pair of long-term sexual partners in which one has an STD such as HIV and the other does not are referred to as a Discordant couple. In discordant couples, regular sex partners have a higher risk of Transmission than it is within non-regular discordant partnerships. It is estimated, about 60% of new HIV infections occur in HIV discordant couples while 30% of married HIV positives have negative spouses.
The discordant couple always blames each other when trying to find the source of infection. Multiple partner’s relationships have increased in the modern age resulting in increased sexual activity both in married and unmarried relationships. Premarital and extramarital affairs decreased frequency of sexual acts between the couple, and inherent resistance to HIV in some individuals are among the reasons for HIV infection among married couples.
According to a Ugandan study published in PLOS ONE, counselling for HIV discordant couples can achieve significant reductions in sexual risk behaviour while enhancing a healthy lifestyle among discordant couples, hence contributing to the reduction of HIV/AIDS spread. We should participate in the wellbeing of the discordant couple by enhancing risk reduction counselling among the couples, increase condom use, creating awareness and educating others on the importance of reductions in the number of concurrent sexual relationships or partners’.
Prevention is better than cure, being self-aware of your HIV status and use of risk reduction methods such as condoms are key in preventing HIV transmission. In sub-Saharan Africa, HIV discordant couples are a major source of HIV new infections. We should encourage partners to participate in testing to increase knowledge of sexual partner’s HIV status, and to encourage Antiretroviral therapy for the prevention of HIV transmission in HIV-discordant couples hence reducing the number of new infections.
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