Disclosure OF Positive HIV Status TO Sexual Partner(s) and Associated Factors among Mothers Attending Elimination of Mother to child Treatment clinic in Mbale Regional Referral Hospital.

Abstract

Introduction: Disclosure of one’s HIV status to a sexual partner(s) during pregnancy has been shown to result in better clinical outcomes to the mother and baby. In Mbale, 1 in every 3mothers is reported to have disclosed their status. We assessed disclosure of HIV positive status to sexual partner(s) and associated factors among mothers attending the Elimination of Mother-To-Child Transmission (EMTCT) clinic at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, Mbale City.

Methodology: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods on a systematic random sample of mothers attending the EMTCT clinic at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital. We used a researcher-administered questionnaire to collect data on individual, social and health facility characteristics. We also conducted key informant interviews to help further understand factors associated with HIV status disclosure. Data was analyzed using SPSS version with p-value of <0.05 used to declare statistical significance.Qualitative data was coded and main themes associated with disclosure established.

Results: We interviewed 148 mothers with a mean age of 29.2297 and standard deviation of 6.2757 Disclosure of HIV positive statuses to sexual partner(s) was 51.4%. Disclosure of HIV status to sexual partners was positively associated with having social support from family member and friends (aOR: 7.143, 95% CI: 3.157-13.329, p<0.001) having no formal education (aOR: 4.426, 95% CI: 1.738-8.526, p-0.002), having primary education (aOR: 5.586, 95% CI: 2.705-10.701, p<0.001). Being Catholic (aOR: 0.159, 95% CI: 30.023-0.418, p-0.001), Anglican (aOR: 0.311, 95% CI: 0.103-0.499, p-0.044), ever missing taking ART medication (aOR: 0.631,95% CI: 0.114-0.668, p<0.001) were negatively associated with disclosure.

Conclusion and recommendations: Approximately half of all HIV positive mothers didn’t disclose their HIV status to their sexual partner(s). Disclosure was positively associated with having social support from family member and friends and negatively associated with ever missing A. Factors negatively associated with disclosure included being catholic or Anglican, ever missing to take ART medication. We recommend treatment adherence monitors for HIV positive mothers, especially family members and friends, to provide support that will help in eventual disclosure to sexual partner(s). Introduction: Disclosure of one’s HIV status to a sexual partner(s) during pregnancy has beenshown to result in better clinical outcomes to the mother and baby. In Mbale, 1 in every 3 mothers is reported to have disclosed their status. We assessed disclosure of HIV positive status to sexual partner(s) and associated factors among mothers attending the Elimination of Mother-To-Child Transmission (EMTCT) clinic at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, Mbale City.

Methodology: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods on a systematic random sample of mothers attending the EMTCT clinic at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital. We used a researcher-administered questionnaire to collect data on individual, social and health facility characteristics. We also conducted key informant interviews to help further understand factors associated with HIV status disclosure. Data was analyzed using SPSS version with p-value of <0.05 used to declare statistical significance. Qualitative data was coded and main themes associated with disclosure established.

Results: We interviewed 148 mothers with a mean age of 29.2297 and standard deviation of 6.2757 Disclosure of HIV positive statuses to sexual partner(s) was 51.4%. Disclosure of HIV status to sexual partners was positively associated with having social support from family member and friends (aOR: 7.143, 95% CI: 3.157-13.329, p<0.001) having no formal education (aOR: 4.426, 95% CI: 1.738-8.526, p-0.002), having primary education (aOR: 5.586, 95% CI: 2.705-10.701, p<0.001). Being Catholic (aOR: 0.159, 95% CI: 30.023-0.418, p-0.001), Anglican (aOR: 0.311, 95% CI: 0.103-0.499, p-0.044), ever missing taking ART medication (aOR: 0.631, 95% CI: 0.114-0.668, p<0.001) were negatively associated with disclosure.

Conclusion and recommendations: Approximately half of all HIV positive mothers didn’t disclose their HIV status to their sexual partner(s). Disclosure was positively associated with having social support from family member and friends and negatively associated with ever missing A. Factors negatively associated with disclosure included being catholic or Anglican, ever missing to take ART medication. We recommend treatment adherence monitors for HIV positive mothers, especially family members and friends, to provide support that will help in eventual disclosure to sexual partner(s).