Prevalence pattern and determinants of disclosure of HIV status in an anti retroviral therapy clinic in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Abstract

Background: In order to advance the extent of self-disclosure of HIV  sero-status in Nigeria, we evaluated the prevalence, pattern and determinants of disclosure of HIV status amongst adult patients in a hospital in the Niger Delta.
Materials and Methods: In a three month cross sectional study undertaken in March 2012, the demographic and clinical data as well as HIV sero-status disclosure frequency and pattern were obtained using a pre-tested  questionnaire from consenting HIV infected adults attending the Anti-Retroviral Therapy Clinic in the Niger Delta. Independent determinants of HIV disclosure to current sexual partner were determined using an unconditional logistic model. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: A total of 260 patients were studied out of which 184(71%) were females. Disclosure to current sexual partner was found to be 62.0% and students had the least disclosure rate. Majority of study participants  preferred to disclose to family members (57%) than past sexual partner
(2.5%) or friend (4.9%). Although HIV disclosure was significantly  associated with male sex, living with sexual partner, partner being HIV
positive; the only independent determinants of HIV disclosure were partner being on ART (OR-12.7,95% CI 1.2-132.7)and being currently married (OR-8.8,95% CI 2.1-36.8).
Conclusion: The results of our study suggest low rate of HIV status  disclosure among HIV infected patients in the Niger Delta. We found that
receiving ART and being currently married promoted disclosure. There is need for clinicians and policy makers to foster disclosure of HIV serostatus
in Nigeria especially among HIV infected students and unmarried sexual partners.

Key words: HIV Sero-status disclosure, receiving ART, being currently married