International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science

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HIV Status Disclosure to Sexual Partner(s) and Associated Factors Among Young Adults, A Mixed Methods Study

Received: 24 February 2019    Accepted: 30 March 2019    Published: 15 May 2019
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Abstract

With a documented HIV prevalence among adults of 12.6% with disparities by sex; 15.7% and 9.3% among women and men respectively, Namibia is one of the first countries reported to be nearing epidemic control for HIV. Namibia has been very successful in ensuring universal treatment access for people living with HIV. For prevention interventions, the importance of HIV status disclosure among HIV-infected individuals, particularly to their sexual partners cannot be over emphasized. We used a mixed methods approach on a combined sample of 185 HIV positive young adults attending comprehensive care departments at selected referral hospitals in Namibia. For quantitative data, the chi-square test and multiple regression analysis were employed for data analysis. Qualitative data was transcribed, coded and analysed to build themes in line with study objectives. Of the 185 participants; only 35 were included in the qualitative component of the study with stratification by gender and age. Multiple logistic regression found HIV post-test counselling plus age were the only factors associated with disclosure status whilst adjusting for other study variables. Three major themes were built from the qualitative data. Theme one showed fear to be an important barrier to disclosure (fear of being rejected and violence). Theme two showed revealed lack of knowledge on importance of disclosure to sexual partner if not married or cohabitating. Theme three showed one main motivation for disclosure was having been tested together or discussed with sexual partner prior to testing. The importance of HIV post-test counselling remains an important factor affecting HIV status disclosure. In the advent of new HIV interventions such as HIV self-testing, findings from our study may be used to guide policies for these new interventions and strengthen post-test counselling to ensure HIV status disclosure to sexual partner(s). Health education on importance of testing as couples or with sexual partner needs to be strengthened.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.16
Published in International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science (Volume 5, Issue 1, June 2019)
Page(s) 47-51
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

HIV Status Disclosure, Sexual Partner, Young Adults

References
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[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Revised guidelines for HIV counseling, testing and referral. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2001 Nov 9; 50(RR-19):1–57. quiz CE1-19a1-CE6-19a1.
[3] Dan C, Ron S, Rebecca C, James C. San Francisco: AIDS Research Institute University of California; Disclosure of HIV status to sexual partners among a random sample of American seropositives. Available on: http://caps.ucsf.edu/uploads/pubs/presentations/pdf/ciccarone.pdf.
[4] Simbayi LC, Kalichman SC, Strebel A, et al. (2007) Disclosure of HIV status to sex partners and sexual risk behaviours among HIV-positive men and women, Cape Town, South Africa. Sex Transm Infect. Feb; 83(1):29–34.
[5] Bachanas P, Medley A, Pals S, Kidder D, Antelman G, Benech I, DeLuca N, Nuwagaba-Biribonwoha H, Muhenje O, Cherutich P, Kariuki P, Katuta F, Bukuku M and PwP Study Group, Disclosure, Knowledge of Partner Status, and Condom Use Among HIV-Positive Patients Attending Clinical Care in Tanzania, Kenya, and Namibia, AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2013 Jul; 27(7): 425–435.
[6] Shisana, O., Rehle, T., Simbayi, L. C., Zuma, K., Jooste, S., Pillay-van Wyk, V., Mbelle, N., Van Zyl, J., Parker, W., Zungu, N. P., Pezi, S. and the SABSSM III Implementation Team (2009). South African national HIV prevalence. incidence and communication survey 2008: A turning tide among teenagers? Cape Town: Human Sciences Research Council Press.
[7] Kadowa, I., & Nuwaha, F. (2009). Factors influencing disclosure of HIV positive status in Mityana district of Uganda. African health sciences, 9(1), 26-33.
[8] Deribe B, Ebrahim J, Bush L (2018) Outcomes and Factors Affecting HIV Status Disclosure to Regular Sexual Partner among Women Attending Antiretroviral Treatment Clinic. J AIDS Clin Res 9: 760. doi: 10.4172/2155-6113.1000760
[9] Ogoina, D., Ikuabe, P., Ebuenyi, I., Harry, T., Inatimi, O., & Chukwueke, O. (2015). Types and predictors of partner reactions to HIV status disclosure among HIV-infected adult Nigerians in a tertiary hospital in the Niger Delta. African health sciences, 15(1), 10-8.
[10] Idindili B, Selemani M, Bakar F, Thawer S. G, Gumi A, Mrisho M, Kahwa A. M and Julius J. Massaga J. J. (2015) Enhancing HIV status disclosure and partners’ testing through counselling in Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Health Research. 17:3.
[11] Obermeyer C. M, Baijal P and Pegurri E (2011). “Facilitating HIV Disclosure Across Diverse Settings: A Review”. American Journal of Public Health 101, no. 6 pp. 1011-1023.
[12] Vu L, Andrinopoulos K, Mathews C, Chopra M, Kendall C, Eisele T. P. (2012) Disclosure of HIV status to sex partners among HIV-infected men and women in Cape Town, South Africa. AIDS and Behavior. 16(1):132–8.
[13] Sethosa E, Peltzer K. Evaluation of HIV counselling and testing, self-disclosure, social support and sexual behaviour change among a rural sample of HIV reactive patients in South Africa. Curationis. 2005; 28(1):29–41.
[14] Nöstlinger C, Bakeera-Kitaka S, Buyze J, Loos J, and Buvé A. (2015) “Factors influencing social self-disclosure among adolescents living with HIV in Eastern Africa,” AIDS Care, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 36–46.
[15] Korner H. Negotiating cultures: disclosure of HIV-positive status among people from minority ethnic communities in Sydney. Cult Health Sex. 2007; 9(2):137–152.
[16] Klitzman RL, Kirshenbaum SB, Dodge B, et al. Intricacies and inter-relationships between HIV disclosure and HAART: a qualitative study. AIDS Care. 2004; 16(5):628–640.
[17] Lugalla JLP, Madihi CM, Sigalla HL, Mrutu NE, Yoder PS. Social Context of Disclosing HIV Test Results: HIV Testing in Tanzania. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Centre for Strategic Research and Development and Macro International; 2008. DHS Qualitative Research Studies.
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Author Information
  • School of Nursing, International University of Management, Windhoek, Namibia; Global Programs for Research and Training, University of California, San Francisco, USA

  • Technical Department, Namibia Institute of Pathology, Windhoek, Namibia

  • Technical Department, Namibia Institute of Pathology, Windhoek, Namibia

  • Technical Department, Namibia Institute of Pathology, Windhoek, Namibia

  • Technical Department, Namibia Institute of Pathology, Windhoek, Namibia

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  • APA Style

    Tafadzwa Dzinamarira, Martha Ndapandula Hatutale, Hilda Namwenyo Ndadi, Moreblessing Chipo Mashora, Saara Penehafo Shatumbu. (2019). HIV Status Disclosure to Sexual Partner(s) and Associated Factors Among Young Adults, A Mixed Methods Study. International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science, 5(1), 47-51. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.16

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    ACS Style

    Tafadzwa Dzinamarira; Martha Ndapandula Hatutale; Hilda Namwenyo Ndadi; Moreblessing Chipo Mashora; Saara Penehafo Shatumbu. HIV Status Disclosure to Sexual Partner(s) and Associated Factors Among Young Adults, A Mixed Methods Study. Int. J. HIV/AIDS Prev. Educ. Behav. Sci. 2019, 5(1), 47-51. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.16

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    AMA Style

    Tafadzwa Dzinamarira, Martha Ndapandula Hatutale, Hilda Namwenyo Ndadi, Moreblessing Chipo Mashora, Saara Penehafo Shatumbu. HIV Status Disclosure to Sexual Partner(s) and Associated Factors Among Young Adults, A Mixed Methods Study. Int J HIV/AIDS Prev Educ Behav Sci. 2019;5(1):47-51. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.16

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.16,
      author = {Tafadzwa Dzinamarira and Martha Ndapandula Hatutale and Hilda Namwenyo Ndadi and Moreblessing Chipo Mashora and Saara Penehafo Shatumbu},
      title = {HIV Status Disclosure to Sexual Partner(s) and Associated Factors Among Young Adults, A Mixed Methods Study},
      journal = {International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science},
      volume = {5},
      number = {1},
      pages = {47-51},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.16},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.16},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijhpebs.20190501.16},
      abstract = {With a documented HIV prevalence among adults of 12.6% with disparities by sex; 15.7% and 9.3% among women and men respectively, Namibia is one of the first countries reported to be nearing epidemic control for HIV. Namibia has been very successful in ensuring universal treatment access for people living with HIV. For prevention interventions, the importance of HIV status disclosure among HIV-infected individuals, particularly to their sexual partners cannot be over emphasized. We used a mixed methods approach on a combined sample of 185 HIV positive young adults attending comprehensive care departments at selected referral hospitals in Namibia. For quantitative data, the chi-square test and multiple regression analysis were employed for data analysis. Qualitative data was transcribed, coded and analysed to build themes in line with study objectives. Of the 185 participants; only 35 were included in the qualitative component of the study with stratification by gender and age. Multiple logistic regression found HIV post-test counselling plus age were the only factors associated with disclosure status whilst adjusting for other study variables. Three major themes were built from the qualitative data. Theme one showed fear to be an important barrier to disclosure (fear of being rejected and violence). Theme two showed revealed lack of knowledge on importance of disclosure to sexual partner if not married or cohabitating. Theme three showed one main motivation for disclosure was having been tested together or discussed with sexual partner prior to testing. The importance of HIV post-test counselling remains an important factor affecting HIV status disclosure. In the advent of new HIV interventions such as HIV self-testing, findings from our study may be used to guide policies for these new interventions and strengthen post-test counselling to ensure HIV status disclosure to sexual partner(s). Health education on importance of testing as couples or with sexual partner needs to be strengthened.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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    AU  - Tafadzwa Dzinamarira
    AU  - Martha Ndapandula Hatutale
    AU  - Hilda Namwenyo Ndadi
    AU  - Moreblessing Chipo Mashora
    AU  - Saara Penehafo Shatumbu
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    T2  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
    JF  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
    JO  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
    SP  - 47
    EP  - 51
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-5765
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.16
    AB  - With a documented HIV prevalence among adults of 12.6% with disparities by sex; 15.7% and 9.3% among women and men respectively, Namibia is one of the first countries reported to be nearing epidemic control for HIV. Namibia has been very successful in ensuring universal treatment access for people living with HIV. For prevention interventions, the importance of HIV status disclosure among HIV-infected individuals, particularly to their sexual partners cannot be over emphasized. We used a mixed methods approach on a combined sample of 185 HIV positive young adults attending comprehensive care departments at selected referral hospitals in Namibia. For quantitative data, the chi-square test and multiple regression analysis were employed for data analysis. Qualitative data was transcribed, coded and analysed to build themes in line with study objectives. Of the 185 participants; only 35 were included in the qualitative component of the study with stratification by gender and age. Multiple logistic regression found HIV post-test counselling plus age were the only factors associated with disclosure status whilst adjusting for other study variables. Three major themes were built from the qualitative data. Theme one showed fear to be an important barrier to disclosure (fear of being rejected and violence). Theme two showed revealed lack of knowledge on importance of disclosure to sexual partner if not married or cohabitating. Theme three showed one main motivation for disclosure was having been tested together or discussed with sexual partner prior to testing. The importance of HIV post-test counselling remains an important factor affecting HIV status disclosure. In the advent of new HIV interventions such as HIV self-testing, findings from our study may be used to guide policies for these new interventions and strengthen post-test counselling to ensure HIV status disclosure to sexual partner(s). Health education on importance of testing as couples or with sexual partner needs to be strengthened.
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