Heterosexual route is the most common mode of human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission among married couples in India. The
aim of the study was to determine HIV seroconcordance and serodiscordance among
couples when one of the partners is HIV positive.
A retrospective study which included HIV positive married
cohabiting cases was carried out at the Department of Skin-VD, Medical College,
Baroda. Detailed history of high-risk sexual behavior, blood transfusion (BT)
and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) was taken. All the cases were
examined for the presence of STIs and all males were examined for circumcision.
The spouses of these cases were tested for HIV to know the
seroconcordance/serodiscordance.
A total of 66 HIV positive cases were studied which included
34 males and 32 females. Forty-five cases had seropositive spouses that
consisted of 20 out of 34 HIV positive males and 25 out of 32 HIV positive
females. History of STI was present in 13 cases. History of BT in one of the
spouses was present in 15 of 45 seroconcordant couples while in 6 out of 21 serodiscordant
couples. Among 34 HIV positive males, circumcision was present in 8 cases out
of which 6 were serodiscordant.
About 68% concordance suggests continued intramarital
transmission probably due to lack of spousal communication and late testing. In
cases having transfusion transmitted HIV, seroconcordance rate was found to be
high. Such cases are usually asymptomatic and hence tested late but continue to
transmit HIV by unprotected sexual activity.
Table 2
Circumcision and seroconcordance
Table 3
STIs and seroconcordance
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Department of Skin and VD, Medical College Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat,
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