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Types and predictors of partner reactions to HIV status disclosure among HIVinfected adult Nigerians in a tertiary hospital in the Niger Delta


D Ogoina
P Ikuabe
I Ebuenyi
T Harry
O Inatimi
O Chukwueke

Abstract

Background and objective: Our aim was to describe the types and determinants of partner reactions to HIV-status disclosure among adults attending an antiretroviral therapy-(ART) clinic in the Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken between January and March 2013 among consecutive adult patients who had disclosed their HIV-status to their current sexual partner. Sociodemograhic data and types of initial and subsequent partner reactions to disclosure were obtained using interviewer- administered standardized-questionnaire. Independent determinants of reactions to disclosure were ascertained by unconditional logistic regression.
Results: Out of 123 study participants, 57.7% were females, 92% were receiving ART and 86.1% were currently married. Majority of the participants reported predominant positive or supportive initial (72.4%) and subsequent (89.5%) partner reactions to disclosure, with significant increase in positive reactions over time. Positive initial partner reactions were independently associated with prior post- test counselling-(Odds ratio [OR]-6.5, 95% Confidence interval [CI]-1.3- 31.6-p=0.02), age>35years-(OR-5.8, 95% CI-1.6-20.9-p=0.008) and being healthy at time of disclosure-(OR-7.8, 95% CI-1.7-35.4-p=0.008). Subsequent positive partner reactions were significantly associated with receiving antiretroviral therapy and having only one lifetime sexual partner.
Conclusion: Our results indicate that partner reactions to HIV-status disclosure are predominantly supportive. Disclosure counselling and early initiation of ART may be effective in improving HIV-status disclosure in Nigeria.

Keywords: HIV-disclosure, sexual partners, disclosure reactions, Counselling, antiretroviral therapy, Nigeria


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eISSN: 1729-0503
print ISSN: 1680-6905