Intentions to communicate positive HIV-antibody status to sex partners.

To the Editor. —To reduce the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission through sexual activity, individuals are urged to (1) reduce their number of sexual partners, (2) avoid behaviors that transmit the virus, and (3) know their partners' sexual history or HIV-antibody status. However, it is uncertain whether HIV-positive individuals will reveal their antibody status to their sexual partners. Study. —Individuals obtaining HIV-antibody testing at two alternative testing centers in Alameda County, California, completed self-administered questionnaires prior to obtaining their test results. Assessed were sexual practices, number of sexual partners in the preceding month, and intentions to communicate positive test results to sex partners. This analysis is limited to homosexual and bisexual men who were sexually active in the previous month and were not in mutually monogamous relationships (32.7% of homosexual/ bisexual men at the clinic were monogamous or celibate). Individuals were categorized in relation to the previous month's