Women’s Report of Regret of HIV Disclosure to Family, Friends and Sex Partners

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine whether HIV-positive women experience regret as a consequence of disclosing their HIV serostatus. Participants for this study were 73 HIV-positive women involved in a longitudinal study of HIV disclosure. Results revealed that overall, participants experienced little regret. Fifty nine percent of women experienced no regret and 71% had regret percentages that were less than 10%. Results indicated that all estimated odds ratios were not statistically significant, with the exception of relationship satisfaction and relationship to participant.

Resumption of sexual activity and regular menses after childbirth among women infected with HIV in Malawi

“…In settings in which the negotiating power of women regarding sex with their partners is limited, women (including those infected with HIV) may be forced to resume early sexual activity to satisfy the desires of their male partners and for fear of the partner starting a new sexual relationship outside their marriage/partnership [7]. HIV-infected women may also follow prevailing reproductive cultural behaviors for fear of disclosure of their HIV status to their family members and fear of community discrimination [8]. Biologically, sexual intercourse during the immediate postpartum period may lead to local and systemic clinical complications [9].…”

Depression and HIV Serostatus Disclosure to Sexual Partners Among Newly HIV-Diagnosed Men Who Have Sex with Men

“…10 In deciding to disclose, PLHIV weigh the benefits and risks of sharing one's serostatus. 11 For MSM living with HIV, they may benefit from disclosure by gaining control, sharing responsibility for sexual risk with partners, and eliciting social support. 12 The social support that can result from disclosure may foster coping and psychological adjustment to diagnosis.…”

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“…Despite receiving negative outcomes after disclosure to others, such as experiencing rejection from others due to stigma, heterosexual women and gay men experienced few regrets after disclosure because it facilitated them coming to terms with their diagnosis and improved their level of coping and well-being [57,58]. In fact, Holt et al, found that most individuals used disclosure as way of coping and often repeated the process to disclose to other individuals to facilitate self-acceptance of their condition [59].…”