Social influences may create a barrier to couples HIV testing and counselling (CHTC) uptake in sub-Saharan Africa. This secondary analysis of data collected in the ‘Uthando Lwethu’ randomised controlled trial used discrete-time survival models to evaluate the association between within-couple average ‘peer support’ score and uptake of CHTC by the end of nine months’ follow-up. Peer support was conceptualised by self-rated strength of agreement with two statements describing friendships outside of the primary partnership. Eighty-eight couples (26.9%) took up CHTC. Results tended towards a dichotomous trend in models adjusted only for trial arm, with uptake significantly less likely amongst couples in the higher of four peer support score categories (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.18, 0.68 [7–10 points]; OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.28, 0.99 [≥ 11 points]). A similar trend remained in the final multivariable model, but was no longer significant (AOR 0.59, 95% CI 0.25, 1.42 [7–10 points]; AOR 0.88, 95% CI 0.36, 2.10 [≥ 11 points]). Accounting for social influences in the design of couples-focused interventions may increase their success.

社会影响可能会对撒哈拉以南非洲地区的夫妇进行艾滋病毒检测和咨询 (CHTC) 造成障碍。对“Uthando Lwethu”随机对照试验中收集的数据进行的二次分析使用离散时间生存模型来评估夫妻内平均“同伴支持”评分与九个月随访结束时 CHTC 摄取之间的关联。同伴支持的概念是通过自我评估的同意程度和两个描述主要伙伴关系之外的友谊的陈述来实现的。 88对夫妇（26.9%）加入了恒天。在仅针对试验组进行调整的模型中，结果倾向于二分法趋势，在四个同伴支持分数类别中较高的夫妇中采用的可能性显着降低（OR 0.34，95% CI 0.18，0.68 [7-10 分]；OR 0.53， 95% CI 0.28, 0.99 [≥ 11 分]）。最终多变量模型中仍存在类似趋势，但不再显着（AOR 0.59，95% CI 0.25, 1.42 [7–10 分]；AOR 0.88，95% CI 0.36, 2.10 [≥ 11 分]）。在设计以夫妻为中心的干预措施时考虑社会影响可能会增加其成功率。