Processes and Outcomes of HIV Serostatus Disclosure to Sexual Partners among People Living with HIV in Uganda

• DOI: 10.1007/s10461-007-9307-7
• Publication Date: 2007-09-07T09:24:13Z
• Authors: Rachel King; David Katuntu; Julie Lifshay; Laura Packel; Richard Batamwita; Sylvia Nakayiwa; Betty Abang; Frances Babirye; Pille Lindkvist; Eva Johansson; Jonathan Mermin; Rebecca Bunnell
• Keywords: Serostatus; Health psychology; Sexual partner; Self-disclosure

Disclosure of HIV serostatus to sexual partners supports risk reduction and facilitates access to prevention and care services for people living with HIV/AIDS. To assess health and social predictors of disclosure as well as to explore and describe the process, experiences and outcomes related to disclosure of HIV-infected men and women in Eastern Uganda, we conducted a study among HIV-infected men and women who were clients of The AIDS Support Organization (TASO) in Jinja, Uganda. We enrolled TASO clients in a cross-sectional study on transmission risk behavior. Demographic and behavioral data and CD4 cell count measurements were collected. Among 1,092 participants, 42% were currently sexually active and 69% had disclosed their HIV serostatus to their most recent sexual partner. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that disclosure of HIV-status was associated with being married, having attended TASO for more than 2 years, increased condom use, and knowledge of partner's serostatus. From these clients, 45 men and women were purposefully selected and interviewed in-depth on disclosure issues. Positive outcomes included risk reduction behavior, partner testing, increased care-seeking behavior, anxiety relief, increased sexual communication, and motivation to plan for the future.