ABSTRACT

Disclosure of HIV status especially to sexual partners is an important prevention goal. Many

international organizations including UNAIDS, WHO and CDC are emphasizing the importance

of HIV status disclosure. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of HIV status

disclosure and the factors that are associated with disclosure of HIV status by HIV positive

patients attending the adult ART clinic in Gombe State Specialist Hospital (GSSH)

This was a cross sectional descriptive study among adult HIV positive patients at GSSH. Study

participant were sample using a systematic random sampling technique and interviewer

administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data.

A total of 198 out of 200 respondents were interviewed yielding a response rate of 99%. There

were more female (80.3%) respondents compared to male (19.7%). Majority (76.8%) of the

respondents were between 20 and 39years old with a mean age of 32.9years. 60.1% of the

respondents were married with majority (78%) of them in a monogamous family setting. The

vast majority (97.5%) had disclosed their HIV status and majority (36.8%) of them disclosed to

their spouses. 64% of the respondents had treatment supporter and spouses (42.9%) were their

choice of a treatment supporter. Disclosure of HIV status was found to be associated only with

young age (<40years) [AOR 38.16; 95% CI 2.42-602.61]. However, female gender [AOR 1.53;

95% CI 0.14-17.02] and being employed [AOR 9.76; 95% CI 0.64-148.65] are more likely to

disclose HIV status. While being educated [AOR 0.69; 95% CI 0.07-6.74], short duration of

infection (<1year) [AOR 0.18; 95% CI 0.01-3.17] and being married [AOR 0.31; 95% CI 0.02-

4.23] make it less likely to disclose HIV status.

x

Disclosure of HIV status was high in the study population. Spouses were the most preferential

choice of persons HIV statuses were disclosed to and also the most adopted as treatment

supporter. HIV status disclosure should be made soon after diagnosis because of its importance

especially to couples. This encourages family support and lessens stigmatization.

Key words: Disclosure Factors; HIV Status; Gombe State