Reasons for HIV Disclosure and Non-Disclosure: An Exploratory Study of Rural African American Men

Abstract

Disclosure of one's HIV status to others is an important decision. There are benefits and risks to be considered. Also decisions must be made about the recipients of the disclosure. This study explored reasons for disclosure and non-disclosure among rural African American men in the south. Audiotaped interviews were conducted with 40 men. The most common reasons for disclosure were to relieve stress, satisfy the need to tell, help others, and to receive support. The most common reasons for non-disclosure were the fear of negative reaction or stigma, the fear of the disclosure recipient telling others, a belief that there was no need to tell, not being ready to tell, and not wanting to burden others with the disclosure.

To tell or not to tell: Negotiating disclosure for people living with HIV on antiretroviral treatment in a South African setting

“…If support was to be given, then the patients would disclose. Cusick and Rhodes (1999), Issiaka et al (2001), Medley et al (2004) Deribe et al (2008, Kadowa and Nuwaha (2009) and Gaskins et al (2011) had similar findings. A few other participants had no choice because being sick or being on treatment already exposed or disclosed one's status, similar to findings by Makoae et al (2009).…”

“…Disclosure occurs for a variety of reasons and in various contexts: to sexual partners to enable safer sexual choices, to health-care workers to access treatment and care services; and to family and community members to gain various forms of support (Greene, Derlega, Yep & Petronio 2003in Gaskins, Foster, Sowell, Lewis, Gardner & Parton 2011. The reasons for disclosure or non-disclosure are shaped by the (social) relationships, and the needs and circumstances of PLHIV at the time of disclosure (Bairan, Taylor, Blake, Akers, Sowell & Mendiola 2006;Gaskins et al 2011;Ware et al 2006).…”

“…The reasons for disclosure or non-disclosure are shaped by the (social) relationships, and the needs and circumstances of PLHIV at the time of disclosure (Bairan, Taylor, Blake, Akers, Sowell & Mendiola 2006;Gaskins et al 2011;Ware et al 2006). Mogensen (2010) notes that disclosing or concealing one's HIV status is a way to negotiate or access important objectives, as well as to control who knows about one's status.…”

“…They hypothesise that this group may be important in determining whether or not individuals disclose (Iwelunmor et al 2009). Studies show that attention to disclosure, as well as the reasons for disclosing, the disclosure targets, and how disclosure is carried out are important for achieving both optimal PLHIV care and HIV prevention (Gaskins 2006;Gaskins et al 2011).…”

Influences of Social Determinants of Health on African Americans Living With HIV in the Rural Southeast: A Qualitative Meta-synthesis

“…The screening process yielded nine articles that met inclusion criteria. The qualitative designs of the articles were Descriptive Inquiry (Gaskins et al, 2011;Kempf et al, 2010;Konkle-Parker, Erlen, & Dubbert, 2008;Miles, Isler, Banks, Sengupta, & Corbie-Smith, 2011;Moneyham et al, 2010;Vyavaharkar, Moneyham, & Corwin, 2008;Williams, Amico, & Konkle-Parker, 2011), Grounded Theory (Mallory, 2008), and Phenomenology (Phillips, Moneyham, Thomas, & Vyavaharkar, 2011). Finally, the reference pages of included papers were perused without success to find additional articles meeting inclusion criteria for the meta-synthesis.…”