Disclosure of HIV Status: Experiences and Perceptions of Persons Living With HIV/AIDS and Nurses Involved in Their Care in Africa

HIV/AIDS remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, with over three million persons living with the condition. Throughout the history of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, persons living with the condition have faced stigma and discrimination in various areas including access to health services, access to education, access to employment, among others. In the past, because of lacunae in Nigerian law and jurisprudence, it has been the subject of debate whether Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS are adequately protected by law. Recent developments in legislation such as the federal HIV/AIDS Anti-Discrimination Act, 2014 and judicial decisions in 2012 and 2016 on discrimination on the basis of HIV status suggest a positive shift of the law to full protection of the rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, particularly in the area of employment. This article provides an analysis of these recent developments in the law and argues that the time has come to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to include health status as a ground upon which one cannot be unduly discriminated against.

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Disclosure of HIV status by people living with HIV/AIDS in tertiary care hospital in Western Maharashtra

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20202999 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (7) ◽

pp. 2691

Author(s):

Sumit Lathwal ◽

Saurabh Mahajan ◽

Arun K. Yadav

Keyword(s):

Tertiary Care Hospital ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Care Hospital ◽

Hiv Status ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Persons Living With Hiv ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Aids

Background: Disclosure is a planned and selective behavior that responds to the balance of potential risks and benefits of secrecy and disclosure of the person living with HIV. The disclosure of HIV status to sexual partners, family or friends, has been shown to be a potent stressor, as persons living with HIV/AIDS might fear negative reactions such as blame, rejection or violence. This study was carried out with an aim to study the patterns of HIV status disclosure and the problems related with it among the HIV positive patients admitted in a tertiary care hospital in Western Maharashtra.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive, hospital based study carried out in a tertiary care hospital of Western Maharashtra from 01 October 2008 to 30 September 2010. A total of 92 consenting respondents admitted in the hospital were administered a pre tested semi-structured questionnaire to collect the data. The results were analysed using SPSS Ver 16.0.Results: Out of 74 married HIV positive individuals who had a chance to disclose their sero-status to spouse, 64 (86.5%, 95% CI-78.7% to 94.29%) voluntarily disclosed their HIV status to spouse while a small number i.e. 10 (13.5%, 95% CI- 05.71% to 21.29%) did not disclose their HIV status to spouse.Conclusions: This exploratory analysis suggests the need for tailoring interventions for improving disclosure decisions making and outcomes. Institutionalized measures need to be enforced judiciously to assist the HIV positive individuals to reveal their status to their wife and other members of their social group.

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