Abnormal and Behavioural Psychology

Factors Affecting HIV Positive Status Disclosure among People Living with HIV in West Showa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia; 2013

Abstract

Shewaye Fituma Natae and Mulu Kitaba Negawo

Background: Disclosure of HIV positive status to at least one family members or relative is paramount important for adherence to highly active anti retroviral therapy (HAART) which enters increase survival and quality life of the people living with HIV (PLHIV). Despite the importance of HIV sero positive status disclosure most PLHIV concealed their sero status from their family/relatives even from their sexual partner. The aim of this study was to assess factors that affect PLHIV to disclose their HIV positive status to their sexual partner.
Methods: A cross-sectional study using quantitative research approach supplemented by qualitative methods was conducted from October to March 2013 among 360 people living with HIV (PLHIV) attending ART clinic in Ambo Hospital. Simple random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data were collected through face to face interview and focus group discussion using pre-tested structured questionnaire and semi structured interview guides, respectively. Crude and adjusted odds ratios using logistic regression analysis were used to explore associations between different variables and HIV status disclosure.
Results: The study revealed that the prevalence of HIV status disclosure to at least one person was 86.2% (95% CI: 82.5-89.3); whereas 84.9% study subjects were disclose their HIV positive sero status to their sexual partner. Marital status (AOR = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.036-0.39), knowledge of partner HIV status (AOR = 5.7, 95% CI: 1.89-17.4), prior discussion about HIV/AIDs (AOR = 6.3, 95% CI: 1.05-38.12), length since HIV test done (AOR = 0.05, 95% CI: 0.01-0.32), and being on HAART (AOR = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.03-0.46) were significant predictors of HIV status disclosure to sexual partners.
Conclusion: Knowledge of partner HIV status, prior discussion about HIV/AIDS before test, length since tested for HIV and ART initiation were significantly associated with HIV positive status disclosure to sexual partner. Hence the health workers should address the issue of open discussion among couples to enhance HIV status disclosure to sexual partner and decrease HIV status transmission by hiding once HIV positive status due to fear of divorce, stigma and discrimination.