Factors Influencing HIV Status Disclosure to Partners Among Antiretroviral Therapy Clients in the Upper East Region, Ghana

Abstract

In Ghana, HIV status disclosure to partners is voluntary. This study sought to determine the factors associated with HIV status disclosure to partners among antiretroviral therapy (ART) clients in the Upper East Region. A matched case-control study (1:1) was carried out in nine ART sites in the Upper East region in which 100 ART sexually active clients who had not disclosed their status to their partners were compared with 100 ART sexually ART clients who had disclosed their status to their partners. To each of the 200 study participants, a structured questionnaire was administered to elicit relevant responses. Discordant pair analysis was done with Mantel-Haenszel matched test to determine associations between variables. The study found persons with informal education more likely to disclose HIV status, whereas persons living apart or not having children with a partner were less likely to disclose their status to their sexual partners. On the other hand, active involvement or participation in ART-related services were more likely going to impact HIV status disclosure. Early initiation of ART, while adherence to ART services and the use of treatment monitors were less associated with disclosure. Active participation in ART related services such as prompt initiation of ART following diagnosis, adherence promotion, and treatment monitoring should be encouraged to promote HIV status disclosure among sexual partners.

Keywords: Antiretroviral therapy; HIV among couples; HIV status disclosure; People living with HIV/AIDS.