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

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‘counsellor’ in the village. <strong>Disclosure</strong> helps one avoid many problems. Even my<br />

children now know about my <strong>status</strong><br />

[Male, 40 years, married].<br />

4.6.4 Involvement <strong>of</strong> the TASO staff in disclosure<br />

<strong>Disclosure</strong> counselling is one <strong>of</strong> the key aspects that are handled during the counselling<br />

sessions with HIV positive clients <strong>who</strong> register at TASO Mulago. The issues discussed<br />

by the counsellors during the counselling session on disclosure mainly focus on the<br />

advantages and disadvantages <strong>of</strong> disclosure, <strong>who</strong> <strong>to</strong> disclose <strong>to</strong>, and planning for<br />

disclosure.The counsellors’ role is important therefore in facilitating disclosure as<br />

expressed by some participants. Most participants proposed that the counsellors should<br />

visit the clients’ homes and help women disclose <strong>to</strong> their spouses as well as move from<br />

house <strong>to</strong> house conducting counselling and testing.<br />

I would suggest that counsellors plan <strong>to</strong> visit families and help the women tell<br />

their <strong>partners</strong> or they can ask the women for their spouses’ phone numbers so that<br />

they (counsellors) contact them<br />

[Female 36 years old, has a steady partner]<br />

Another female participant <strong>who</strong> has not disclosed because she is afraid <strong>of</strong> her partner’s<br />

possible reaction said;<br />

I think that if counsellors and doc<strong>to</strong>rs moved from house <strong>to</strong> house conducting<br />

home based HIV counselling and testing, maybe some <strong>people</strong> like my partner<br />

would accept <strong>to</strong> be tested and treated. I realise many <strong>of</strong> my friends keep quiet in<br />

order <strong>to</strong> avoid conflict at home<br />

[Female 46 years old, cohabiting]]<br />

One client <strong>who</strong> at first was shocked by her HIV positive results but was later counselled<br />

and encouraged <strong>to</strong> disclose said:<br />

My counsellor has helped me a lot because she even supported me as I <strong>to</strong>ld my<br />

husband my results. This happened after I had tried on my own and failed. Today<br />

we are all happy because he also tested positive and he is being treated.<br />

57

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