Abstract:

Individuals diagnosed with HIV often have difficulty disclosing their status to others, yet hiding the diagnosis can have serious implications. Disclosure of HIV status involves a process of decision-making, based upon numerous factors. This study was done to explore the reasons why some women disclose and some do not disclose their HIV status.

The study was conducted in a regional hospital in Manzini. The researcher employed the qualitative descriptive phenomenological methodology. Convenience and purposive sampling were utilized, and the data collection methods were in-depth Interviewing methods. A total of 15 pregnant women attending antenatal care were interviewed.

Most prominent reasons for disclosure of the HIV status by pregnant women attended to for the PMTCT program were that of the need to practice safer sex. Some felt the need to disclose because it would make their sexual partners to protect the unborn babies and to reduce the chances of re-infection. Most women who disclosed stated that they were so hurt by finding themselves HIV positive yet, they knew that they were faithful to their sexual partners. Some stated that they needed somebody to share the pain with. Some women stated that they did not disclose their HIV statuses out of fear of lack of support and probably domestic violence.

Keywords: Disclosure, HIV, PMTCT, domestic violence, SWAGAA, antenatal care.

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