08/28/2025
🫶🏾 The experiences of among mixed-status (HIV+ and HIV-) couples in Tanzania and Uganda are incredibly moving and motivating to learn about. In this new study, one participant shared:
🗣️ "I feared touching my girlfriend, and I could not imagine myself having s*x with her. Even the mere thought of having s*x with her made me feel like I had already contracted HIV. I could not even get the urge for s*x with all the thoughts that were running in my mind. I never knew that I could ever have s*x with my girlfriend, but never doubt the power of love and counselling. All that changed when the health worker told me that my girlfriend could not infect me with HIV when she [was] virally suppressed." (Male partner without HIV, 24 years)
🌍 The study powerfully illustrates the transformative impact of U=U on the social, s*xual, and reproductive lives of those of us living with HIV and our partners -- while underscoring the barriers that remain, including misconceptions about the science, persistent HIV stigma, and inconsistent provider communication. These gaps are not unique to East Africa -- they reflect challenges documented around the world.
As we approach the 10-year anniversary of U=U, we must amplify efforts to fund and scale U=U education, equip providers with the tools to communicate U=U clearly and confidently, and ensure that all communities have access to the information, treatment, and care to make U=U a reality.
🏆 Thank you to Dr. Elizabeth Senkoro and team for this critical work!
👉🏾 Read the study here: Experiences of undetectable = untransmittable among couples with different HIV serostatus: a qualitative study in Tanzania and Uganda
HIV serodifferent couples where one partner is living with HIV and the other is not, remain a key population for HIV prevention. Maintaining an undetectable viral load eliminates the risk of s*xual HIV transmission, this principle is often summarised as undetectable = untransmittable (U = U)...
