Issues surrounding HIV status disclosure: Experiences of seropositive women in Lagos, Nigeria

Oseni, Oluwaseun E; Okafor, Ifeoma P.; Sekoni, Adekemi

doi:10.4103/ijpvm.ijpvm_136_15

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 13 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Most (13/23) participants who had disclosed did so after they had been hospitalised or whilst in the hospital. The literature suggests that PLHIV who disclose at a more advanced stage of illness do so to get sympathetic support [46].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceived Stigma as a Contextual Barrier to Early Uptake of HIV Testing, Treatment Initiation, and Disclosure; the Case of Patients Admitted with AIDS-Related Illness in a Rural Hospital in South Africa

2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We explored the extent to which perceived HIV-related stigma influences the disclosure and concealment of HIV status to family among adult patients hospitalised for AIDS-related illness, and described reports of negative responses and enacted stigma following disclosure. We conducted interviews with a purposeful sample of 28 adult patients in a rural South African hospital. Data analysis was deductive and inductive and followed the thematic approach. We found evidence of delayed HIV diagnosis and initiation of treatment. There was delayed and selective disclosure as well as concealment of the HIV-positive status. The disclosure was delayed for months or even years. During that time, there was active concealment of the HIV status to avoid stigma from family, friends, and community. When disclosure occurred, there was selective disclosure to close family members who would keep the secret and respond favorably. Although the participants disclosed mostly to close family, some of their post-disclosure experiences included incidents of enacted stigma and discrimination. The fear of perceived stigma and self-stigma influenced the active concealment of their HIV status from others. Continuous concealment of one’s HIV status and delayed disclosure limit the opportunities for support and care. There is a need to take into consideration the interaction between HIV-related stigma and disclosure to develop disclosure-counselling strategies in primary health care settings.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceived Stigma as a Contextual Barrier to Early Uptake of HIV Testing, Treatment Initiation, and Disclosure; the Case of Patients Admitted with AIDS-Related Illness in a Rural Hospital in South Africa

2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Our finding that about one-third disclosed to MSP and one-sixth to FSP is similar to the 33% of MSM who disclosed their HIV status to sexual partners in one internet-based study in Asia [ 36 ] but much lower than the approximately 70% of MSM living with HIV in the United States who have disclosed to their partners [ 37 , 38 ]. HIV-related stigma is one potential barrier to HIV status disclosure, which has been extensively documented among Nigerian MSM and TGW and can intersect with stigmas related to same-sex sexual practices [ 17 , 21 , 39 ]. These intersecting stigmas likely contributed to the lower prevalence of HIV status disclosure in our study as compared to the US, where stigma related to both HIV and same-sex sexual practices is less severe [ 40 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is concern that potential beneficial effects of disclosure could be offset by adverse consequences such as societal rejection, persecution, discrimination, abandonment, separation and feelings of shame, worry or fear [ 17 , 21 , 39 ]. MSM and TGW living with HIV may face additional stigma due to same-sex sexual practices [ 9 , 17 – 20 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Disclosure of HIV status may expose PLWH to societal rejection, stigma, persecution, and discrimination [ 17 ]. Among Nigerian cisgender women, risk of abandonment or separation and feelings of shame, worry and fear have been identified as barriers to HIV status disclosure in one prior study [ 21 ]. The paradox is that disclosure of HIV status offers potential individual and public health benefits.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

HIV status disclosure by Nigerian men who have sex with men and transgender women living with HIV: a cross-sectional analysis at enrollment into an observational cohort

Tiamiyu

Lawlor

et al. 2020

BMC Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) are disproportionately impacted by HIV and may face barriers to HIV status disclosure with negative ramifications for HIV prevention and care. We evaluated HIV status disclosure to sexual partners, HIV treatment outcomes, and stigma patterns of MSM and TGW in Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria. Methods Previously-diagnosed MSM and TGW living with HIV who enrolled in the TRUST/RV368 cohort from March 2013 to August 2018 were asked, “Have you told your (male/female) sexual partners (MSP/FSP) that you are living with HIV?” In separate analyses, robust Poisson regression models were used to estimate risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for characteristics associated with HIV status disclosure to MSP and FSP. Self-reported stigma indicators were compared between groups. Results Of 493 participants living with HIV, 153 (31.0%) had disclosed their HIV status to some or all MSP since being diagnosed. Among 222 with FSP, 34 (15.3%) had disclosed to some or all FSP. Factors independently associated with disclosure to MSP included living in Lagos (RR 1.58 [95% CI 1.14–2.20]) and having viral load < 50 copies/mL (RR 1.67 [95% CI 1.24–2.25]). Disclosure to FSP was more common among participants who were working in entertainment industries (RR 6.25 [95% CI 1.06–36.84]) or as drivers/laborers (RR 6.66 [95% CI 1.10–40.36], as compared to unemployed) and also among those married/cohabiting (RR 3.95 [95% CI 1.97–7.91], as compared to single) and prescribed ART (RR 2.27 [95% CI 1.07–4.83]). No differences in self-reported stigma indicators were observed by disclosure status to MSP but disclosure to FSP was associated with a lower likelihood of ever having been assaulted (26.5% versus 45.2%, p = 0.042). Conclusions HIV status disclosure to sexual partners was uncommon among Nigerian MSM and TGW living with HIV but was associated with improved HIV care outcomes. Disclosure was not associated with substantially increased experiences of stigma. Strategies to encourage HIV status disclosure may improve HIV management outcomes in these highly-marginalized populations with a high burden of HIV infection.

show abstract

“…Disclosure is a complex psychosocial challenge (1). While the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has offered hope to children living with HIV and AIDS (2), disclosure of HIV positive status to a child generates rise in emotions among health care professionals, parents and guardians.…”

Section: Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disclosure Experiences and Challenges Among Children and Adolescents Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria-A Review of the Literature

Okolo-Francis

Victor-Ogie

Ibrahim

et al. 2021

Int J Health Life Sci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Context: Disclosure of HIV positive infection status in children and Adolescents is multifaceted and should take into consideration their age, psychosocial maturity, cultural and clinical context. This study was conducted to examine disclosure experiences and challenges among children and ALWHA in Nigeria. Evidence Acquisition: We conducted narrative review of relevant literatures by searching PubMed, Google scholar and Medscape using predetermined keywords. Results: Findings are presented under themes of process of disclosure and age of disclosure, reasons and challenges of disclosure, reactions and responses to disclosure, consistent with various authors. This study shows that the mean age and reasons for HIV positive status disclosure are variable. Disclosure was mostly executed at home and mostly carried out by parents or caregivers of HIV-infected children. Reactions of children and ALWHA upon disclosure was mainly negative and ranged from feeling of anger to expression of shock to feeling of sadness and to crying. Barriers to HIV-positive status disclosure among caregivers were perceived sense immaturity and age of the child, fear of stigma, fear of child’s inability to cope, fear of blaming the parents and refusal to take antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. While caregivers highlighted several factors that affect disclosure of HIV status to children and adolescents, this study reveals both positive and negative impact on their emotions. Conclusions: It is of note that approach to disclosure is critical, therefore caregivers and healthcare workers should be properly trained and supported with resources required to effectively carry out disclosure. There is need for continuous research to understand and develop age and culture specific approaches to disclosure in children and adolescents in Nigeria.

show abstract

Issues surrounding HIV status disclosure: Experiences of seropositive women in Lagos, Nigeria

Cited by 4 publications

References 13 publications

Perceived Stigma as a Contextual Barrier to Early Uptake of HIV Testing, Treatment Initiation, and Disclosure; the Case of Patients Admitted with AIDS-Related Illness in a Rural Hospital in South Africa

Perceived Stigma as a Contextual Barrier to Early Uptake of HIV Testing, Treatment Initiation, and Disclosure; the Case of Patients Admitted with AIDS-Related Illness in a Rural Hospital in South Africa

HIV status disclosure by Nigerian men who have sex with men and transgender women living with HIV: a cross-sectional analysis at enrollment into an observational cohort

Disclosure Experiences and Challenges Among Children and Adolescents Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria-A Review of the Literature

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About