Test and tell: correlates and consequences of testing and disclosure of HIV status in South Africa (HPTN 043 Project Accept)
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2009
TITLE AUTHOR(S): L.H.Wong, H.Van Rooyen, P.Modiba, L.Richter, G.Gray, J.A.McIntyre, C.D.Schetter, T.Coates
KEYWORDS: HIV-ANTIBODY TESTING, HIV/AIDS, HIV/AIDS STATUS, PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS, SOCIAL NETWORKS
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 5680
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/5016
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/5016
If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.
Abstract
Background: As the numbers of HIV-positive diagnoses rise in South Africa, it is important to understand the determinants and consequences of HIV disclosure. Methods: Cross-sectional survey from random community samples of men and women in urban and rural South Africa (n = 217 HIV-positive individuals, 89% female). Results: Two thirds of all known HIV-infected adults in these communities had disclosed their status to sexual partner(s). On average, individuals who disclosed were 2 years older, higher in socioeconomic assets, and had known their HIV status 7 months longer than those who had not told their sexual partner(s). The "need for privacy" was the most cited reason (45%) for nondisclosure among those who had never disclosed. People who eventually disclosed their HIV status to sexual partner(s) were significantly more likely to report always or more frequently using condoms, reducing their number of sexual partners, and/or becoming monogamous. Among individuals who disclosed their HIV status, 77% reported increases in social support, with families providing the most support. Conclusions: Disclosure is associated with reports of consequent safer sexual behavior and greater social support. Interventions might be informed by the costs and benefits of disclosure and differences in disclosure to sexual partner vs. to one's social network.-
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