Disclosure of Hiv status to sexual partners among people who ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Abstract The increased number of new infections in Uganda necessitates HIV prevention programmes that address risky behaviours especially among heterosexual populations. The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) is the largest indigenous HIV/AIDS agency serving Uganda and the Great Lakes Region. TASO endeavours to empower sexually active clients to disclose their sero-status to their sexual partners and promotes partner testing for HIV. In spite of these efforts, only 12% of 2,071 sexually active clients in Mulago centre had disclosed by the end of 2006. This study aimed to explore the factors that influence clients’ decisions to disclose their HIV status to their partners in TASO Mulago, Kampala, Uganda. The study used a qualitative approach. Fourteen (14) in-depth interviews were conducted with English and Luganda speaking adult male and female clients on antiretroviral treatment (ART), in TASO Mulago. A focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted with 8 purposively selected ART clients who were considered to be ‘expert’ clients in TASO Mulago. These participants were expert clients/ peer educators, who were open about their HIV status and have been involved in HIV/AIDS education and advocacy. The individual interviews and the focus group discussion were transcribed verbatim, and subjected to thematic and content analysis. Male and female participants who were married (primary relationship) disclosed their sero-status to their sexual partners, while few of those cohabiting or in steady relationship (only one) disclosed to their partners. Enabling factors to disclose to current sexual partners included: desire for partner to get treatment, need for the partner’s support, having prior knowledge of partner’s HIV status, out of anger, and having anxiety about the future. Some of the barriers to disclosure included: fear of blame and disappointing the partner, fear of abandonment, fear of stigma and discrimination. Participants suggested that couple counselling and testing, economic independence, peer support and involvement of the TASO staff in disclosure should be considered to facilitate or promote disclosure to sexual partners. iv
While strategies like HBHCT and couple counselling have enhanced disclosure among sexual partners on ART living together in stable married relationships (primary), the partners in secondary relationships (cohabiting and steady) especially women, continue to face challenges in disclosure yet their sexual partners are at risk of HIV infectio The study has re-affirmed the fact that while some people living with HIV/AIDS wish to disclose their HIV status to their partners, there are compound factors that make it difficult to disclose. This calls for effective strategies by government, TASO and other agencies to ensure that sexual partners especially in cohabiting and steady relationships are disclosed to in order to reduce their vulnerability to HIV infection. v
Page 1 and 2: DISCLOSURE OF HIV STATUS TO SEXUAL
Page 3: ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS AIDS - A
Page 7 and 8: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am grateful to t
Page 9 and 10: 4.5.2 Fear of abandonment .........
Page 11 and 12: partners, behavioural dis-inhibitio
Page 13 and 14: engage in preventive behaviours as
Page 15 and 16: opportunistic infections and ART, i
Page 17 and 18: Mulago centre had registered 270 di
Page 19 and 20: 1.6 Problem Statement With the evid
Page 21 and 22: 2.2 Benefits of HIV Status Disclosu
Page 23 and 24: approaches including suggesting tha
Page 25 and 26: that people selectively disclose in
Page 27 and 28: Length of time after testing Women
Page 29 and 30: clients who are on antiretroviral t
Page 31 and 32: Stigma and discrimination The stigm
Page 33 and 34: 2001) had fear of the partners’re
Page 35 and 36: gender based violence as well as du
Page 37 and 38: & Ezzy, 2005). This was relevant fo
Page 39 and 40: the personal experiences but also g
Page 41 and 42: participants was raised to the grou
Page 43 and 44: methods besides the data recorded,
Page 45 and 46: CHAPTER 4: RESULTS 4.1 Description
Page 47 and 48: The other common reason for taking
Page 49 and 50: Although most of the participants w
Page 51 and 52: 4.3.2 Timing of disclosure Disclosu
Page 53 and 54: I thought he would probably blame m
Page 55 and 56:
4.4.1. Desire for partner to get tr
Page 57 and 58:
In the FGD a female participant who
Page 59 and 60:
Some men particularly are afraid to
Page 61 and 62:
Some male participants commented th
Page 63 and 64:
so that she too could come and they
Page 65 and 66:
[Female, 36 years, has a steady par
Page 67 and 68:
[Female, 42 years, married] Even th
Page 69 and 70:
consequences of disclosure among se
Page 71 and 72:
esults (Maman et al., 2003; Kassaye
Page 73 and 74:
fear of stigma and discrimination.
Page 75 and 76:
them and emulate the good examples.
Page 77 and 78:
• Couples should be encouraged to
Page 79 and 80:
Brou, H., Djohan, G., Becquet, R. A
Page 81 and 82:
Greene, K., Derlega, V. J., Yep, G.
Page 83 and 84:
Kitzinger, J. (1994). The Methodolo
Page 85 and 86:
Mugenyi, K., Kabasinguzi, R., & Ali
Page 87 and 88:
Prevention with Positives Committee
Page 89 and 90:
Annual Report, 2007. Kampala, Ugand
Page 91 and 92:
choose not to. The research is tryi
Page 93 and 94:
Appendix 2 UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTER
Page 95 and 96:
A3. Date of interview: ____________
Page 97 and 98:
A2. Interviewee Identification Numb
Page 99:
The counsellors at the different TA
show all

Disclosure of Hiv status to sexual partners among people who ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?