Factors associated with HIV voluntary disclosure of people living with HIV to their steady sexual partner in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: results from a community-based participatory research

Introduction: HIV disclosure to a steady sexual partner (SSP) is important both in preventing HIV transmission and improving the quality of life of people living with HIV (PLHIV). “Its determinants have been poorly investigated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.” The study objective was to determine factors independently associated with voluntary disclosure to one's SSP in PLHIV receiving services from a Congolese community-based organization (CBO). Methods: a community-based participatory research was performed and 300 PLHIV were interviewed by members of the CBO, using a standardized questionnaire. A multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the variables independently associated with disclosure. Results: in this sample, 79 of the 127 participants (62%) included in the analysis declared having voluntarily disclosed their serostatus to their SSP. Declaring to be in a relationship (Odds Ratio (95% Confidence Interval): 4.2 (1.4-12.6)), having tested for HIV because of symptoms (2.5 (1.0-6.4)), having taken the test on one's own initiative (3.2 (1.3-8.0)), having felt sympathy and indifference from people when disclosing (6.0 (1.4-26.9) and 5.0 (1.1-22.8), respectively) as well as having a higher score of the "regular discussion about daily life with HIV" index (1.7 (1.1-2.5)) were significantly associated with disclosure to one's SSP. Conclusion: several individual and contextual factors were associated with voluntary disclosure to SSP in this study, highlighting the complex nature of the disclosure process. Interventions encouraging disclosure should be designed "so as to adapt to one's personal life with HIV as well as psychosocial environment"

FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HIV VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE TO ONE'S STEADY SEXUAL PARTNER IN MALI: RESULTS FROM A COMMUNITY-BASED STUDY

International audienceDespite the widespread dissemination of HIV information throughpublic awareness campaigns in Mali, disclosing seropositivity to one’s steadysexual partner (SSP) remains difficult for people living with HIV (PLHIV). Disclosureis a public health concern with serious implications and is also stronglylinked to the quality of life of PLHIV. This study aimed to analyse factorsassociated with voluntary HIV disclosure to one’s SSP, using a community-basedcross-sectional study on 300 adult PLHIV in contact with a Malian communitybasedorganization working in the field of AIDS response. A 125-item questionnairewas administered by trained personnel to study participants between Mayand October 2011. Analysis was restricted to the 219 participants who bothreported having a SSP and answered to the question on disclosure to theirSSP. A weighted multivariate logistic regression was used to determine variablesindependently associated with disclosure. In total, 161 participants (73%) reportedHIV disclosure to their SSP. Having children (odds ratio [95% confidenceinterval]: 4.52 [1.84–11.12]), being accompanied to the survey site (3.66[1.00–13.33]), knowing others who had publicly declared their seropositivity(3.12 [1.59–6.12]), having higher self-esteem (1.55 [1.09–2.19]) and using meansother than anti-retroviral treatment to treat HIV (0.33 [0.11–1.00]) were independentlyassociated with disclosure. This study identified several factors thatshould be considered for the design of interventions aimed at facilitating disclosureif/when desired in this cultural context

Factors Associated with HIV Status Disclosure to Ones Steady Sexual Partner in PLHIV in Morocco

International audienceThe objective of the present study was todetermine the factors independently associated with disclosureof seropositivity to one’s steady sexual partner inpeople living with HIV (PLHIV) who are recipients ofservices provided by Association de Lutte Contre le Sida, aMoroccan community-based organization (CBO) workingon AIDS response. Between May and October 2011, 300PLHIV were interviewed about their sociodemographicand economic characteristics, their sexual life and disclosureof their serostatus to their friends, family and to theirsteady sexual partner. A weighted logistic regression wasused to study factors associated with serostatus disclosureto one’s steady sexual partner. We restricted the analysis topeople who declared they had a steady sexual partner(n = 124). Median age was 36 years old, 56 % were menand 62 % declared that they had disclosed their serostatusto their steady sexual partner. The following factors wereindependently associated with disclosure: living with one’ssteady sexual partner [OR 95 % CI: 9.85 (2.86–33.98)],having a higher living-standard index [2.06 (1.14–3.72)],regularly discussing HIV with friends [6.54 (1.07–39.77)]and CBO members [4.44 (1.27–15.53)], and having ahigher social exclusion score [1.24 (1.07–1.44)]. Unemployment(as opposed to being a housewife) was negativelyassociated with disclosure [0.12 (0.02–0.87)]. Despite thepotential positive effects for the prevention of HIV transmissionand for adherence to HIV treatment, many PLHIVhad not disclosed their serostatus to their steady sexualpartner. Some factors shown here to be significantly associatedwith such disclosure will help in the development offuture support interventions