The perceived impact of U=U on HIV status-sharing in MSM
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The perceived impact of Undetectable = Untransmittable on HIV status-sharing beliefs and behaviour in men who have sex with men (MSM)
IRAS ID
354924
Contact name
Claire Gilchrist
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Holloway University of London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The Prevention Access Campaign (PAC) (2016) was launched to promote evidence that people living with HIV (PLHIV) who attain an undetectable viral load through treatment, cannot transmit HIV sexually. The term for this is ‘undetectable = untransmittable’ or ‘U=U’ (PAC, 2016). The U=U campaign also aimed to reduce HIV stigma, as despite medical advancements, PLHIV still experience this (Calabrese et al., 2024; Flint et al., 2023).
HIV stigma has been associated with poor physical health management and mental health difficulties (Earnshaw et al., 2013). Sharing one's HIV status can be difficult. Anticipated risks such as rejection and judgement from others is considered to contribute to this (Bird & Voisin, 2011). However, HIV status-sharing may support improvement in psychological wellbeing (Bondarchuck et al., 2024). Status-sharing may also improve physical health management, such as treatment adherence (Mengesha et al., 2023).
The aim of this study is to explore how knowledge of and beliefs about U=U may impact beliefs and behaviours about HIV status-sharing: for example, does status-sharing increase or decrease with U=U knowledge? The focus is on men who have sex with men (MSM), as this group are disproportionately affected by HIV in the UK (Health Security Agency (HSA, 2023).
REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0399
Date of REC Opinion
15 Jul 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion