HIV Positive Sero Status Disclosure and Associated Factors among HIV Positive Women Attending ART Clinic in Health Facilities, Jimma Town, South-West Ethiopia.

Abstract

Introduction: Disclosure of HIV positive status to sexual partners, friends or relatives is a main way for prevention and care strategies. Identifying factors associated with disclosure is necessary to freely disclose of HIV positive status result to their sexual partners, parents and friends to achieve a goal „zero new infection. Identifying factors associated with disclosure is a research priority as a high proportion of people living with HIV/AIDS never disclose in Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to assess the HIV positive status disclosure and associated factors among HIV positive women attending in Jimma Town Health Facilities, South West Ethiopia, 2015. Methods: A health facility-based, cross-sectional study was carried out in Jimma Town Health Facilities from March 2-April 2/2015. Single population proportion formula was used to determine sample size. A total of 338 mothers were enrolled in the study. The study participants were selected by systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Data were entered using EpiData version 3.1 and analysis was carried out using SPSS version 21. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis were applied. The independent variables with p<0.05 in multivariable logistic regression analysis were considered as predictors of HIV positive sero status disclosure. Results: The proportion of HIV disclosure status to someone was 86.1%. Sixty five (22.4 %) of the women faced negative outcome after disclosure. Main barriers of disclosure reported by nondisclosed participants were; fear of stigma and rejection, fear of breach of confidentiality, fear of being ashamed to family, fear of divorce and fear of accusation of infidelity. Being member of AntiHIV/AIDS association [(AOR = 3.171; 95% CI, 1.183-8.501)], being on ART [(AOR= 4.559; 95% CI, 1.586-13.103)], being literate [(AOR=3.624; 95% CI, 1.049-12.522)] and being on follow up counseling [(OR =6.621; 95% CI, 1.719-25.498)] were significantly associated with disclosure of HIV positive sero status. Conclusion: Even though, the magnitude of HIV positive sero status disclosure to somebody in this study is encouraging, negative outcomes following disclosure of sero status were reported by participants. Being on ART, being literate, being follow up counseling, and being member of AntiHIV/AIDS association were associated with disclosure of HIV positive sero status. Therefore, more focus should be given to ongoing counseling, HIV/AIDS association, education and ART service during counseling sessions as well as facilitate safe sero status disclosure through education and awareness for the community.