Lived Experience and Risk Reduction Behaviors Among Sero-Negative Discordant Male Partners Living with HIV-Positive Women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2019: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore lived experience and risk reduction behaviors among sero-negative, discordant male partners living with HIV-positive women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2019. METHODS: A phenomenological study was conducted to explore lived experience and risk reduction behaviors. The study participants were purposively selected 13 sero-negative male partners living with HIV-positive women. An in-depth interview was used to explore important information. A semi-structured interview guide was used to execute the in-depth interview. The in-depth interview was analyzed thematically through the support of ATLAS-ti 7 software. RESULTS: Scientific explanation of discordant result is not well understood rather, it is associated with religious, cultural, natural resistance, and passive carrier explanations. Sero-negative partners faced several challenges and lived dilemmatic life related to partner mood or behavioral change, maintaining the marital relationship, the desire of child, psychosocial, sexual life, and lack of support system. Risk reduction behaviors like condom use, safe sex practice, preventing sexually transmitted infection, avoiding substance use, continuous checkup and follow-up were not well reflected in their lived experience and were poorly understood. Personalized use of sharp materials to avoid blood contact and support of a partner in the proper use of ART drugs were positively reported risk reduction behaviors. CONCLUSION: Sero-negative partners need special attention just as HIV-positive partners in couples with the discordant result. Life suffering is not limited to HIV-positive partners, rather sero-negative partners also faced several challenges and dilemmatic life. HIV transmission risk reduction behavior is not well established and understood.