To disclose or not: women's experiences with HIV- positive Status disclosure to sexual partners: a Case study of Nakuru, Kenya

Abstract

The prevention and control of HIV infection depends on the success of strategies to prevent new infections and treat currently infected individuals. Within HIV testing and counseling programmes emphasis is placed on the importance of HIV status disclosure among HIV infected clients, particularly to sexual partners. Disclosure may motivate , sexual partners to seek testing, change behaviour and ultimately decrease transmission of HIV. In addition, disclosure may facilitate other health behavious that may improve the management of HIV. For example, women who disclose their status to partners may me more likely to participate in programmes for prevention of HIV transmission from mothers to their infants. Through disclosure of her status, a woman may receive support from her family or others in her social network andmay also be able to access available support services. It has been recognized however, that there are a number of barriers that HIV infected women may face in sharing their test result with sexual partners. This report aims to identify the major barriers and outcomes of HIV positive disclosure to sexual partners. In addition, women's experiences with HIV positive status disclosure to sexual partners is documented and the support mechanisms they employ in order to disclose their disclose their status with minimal negative consequences reviewed. The report ends with a section on recommendations for ways to move forward to increase disclosure rates among women to their sexual partners. .