Abstract:

BACKGROUND:

In this study, the factors affecting level of disclosure of HIV staus to sexual partners was studied among HIV positive women in Ikere Ekiti.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

An interviewer administered questionnnaire was administered to 50 female respondent attending care and support group meeting. The degree of correlation between disclosure of HIV status to sexual partner and level of education was studied using chi square method at level of significance of α = 0.05. other factors were also compared e.g. stigmatisation, fear of divorce etc.

RESULT:

Despite effort and resources available for HIV care including counselling service, 76% of patient who have not disclosed their status are not ready for disclosure. The study also shows that there is no relationship between level of education and significance. Stigmatization is still a big challenge in the fight against the scourge as majority attached non disclosure to fear of stigma.

CONCLUSION:

Much effort is still required in the aspect of disclosure of HIV status among sexual partners through improvement of counselling section, legislation against non disclosure that is harmful to others and adoption of contract referal system into our health policy.

References:

[1.] Women, girls and HIV in Nigeria. National Agency for the Control of AIDS

http://naca.gov.ng/index2.php

[2.] Vu L. et al. Disclosure of HIV status to sex partners among HIV infected men and women in Cape Town, South Africa. HIV and AIDS program, population council, Washington DC 2008, USA.

[3.] Seid M. et al. Disclosure of HIV positive to sexual partner among adult clinical service users in Kemissie district, north east Ethiopia. Afrj Reprod Health,2012 Mar ; 16(1): 97-104

[4.] Gender difference in HIV status disclosure among HIV positive service user. Deribe K et al . East Afrj Public Health 2009 DEC: 6(3): 248- 55.

[5.] Talking about your HIV status, Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria .

www.ihvnigeria.org .