1. Predictors of HIV status disclosure among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Ghana: the disclosure conundrum and its policy implications in resource limited settings.
- Author
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Alhassan, Robert Kaba, Nutor, Jerry John, Gyamerah, Akua, Boakye-Yiadom, Emily, Kasu, Emmanuel, Acquah, Evelyn, and Doe, Emmanuel
- Subjects
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HIV infections , *MIDDLE-income countries , *RESEARCH methodology , *CROSS-sectional method , *HEALTH status indicators , *SELF-disclosure , *SOCIOECONOMIC factors , *HIGHLY active antiretroviral therapy , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *EMPLOYMENT , *LOW-income countries , *RESEARCH funding , *MARITAL status , *PSYCHOLOGY of HIV-positive persons , *RESOURCE-limited settings - Abstract
Background: Globally, over 40 million lives have been claimed by HIV/AIDS. In Ghana, more than 350,000 people are living with HIV. Non-disclosure of HIV status is a major barrier to HIV/AIDS eradication; yet, little is known of the determinants of HIV status disclosure in resource limited settings in Africa like Ghana. Objective: Determine the predictors of HIV status disclosure among people living with HIV (PLHIV) and stimulate policy discourse on support systems for self-disclosure in Africa. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study among PLHIV (n = 181) in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically the Volta region of Ghana. Bivariate probit regression was run to determine factors associated with HIV status disclosure among PLHIV. Results: HIV status self-disclosure was reported by 50% of the respondents; nearly 65% disclosed their status to non-family members and non-partners. Significant correlates of HIV status disclosure either to partners or non-partners were marital status, monthly income, type of occupation, and being divorced due to HIV status (p < 0.05). Conclusions: HIV status disclosure remains low in Ghana like many African countries. There is the need for a renewed policy debate on tailored guidelines for HIV status self-disclosure and targeted support systems for PLHIV to ameliorate their predicaments and promote eradication of the epidemic in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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