A comparative analysis of HIV serostatus disclosure pattern among men and women in Gaborone City Council, Botswana

Date
2013-03
Authors
Akinyemi, Oladimeji Akeem
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Disclosure of HIV status is an integral part of HIV prevention and care programmes. It plays a key role in adherence to antiretroviral therapy. It is a vital component of voluntary counselling and testing which is the gateway to HIV prevention, care and access to anti-retroviral treatment. The aim of this study was to compare the pattern of HIV-status disclosure among men and women respectively as well as to evaluate the factors that influenced HIV-status disclosure among these groups. A sample of 74 participants from four Infectious Disease Control Clinics located in Gaborone, Botswana completed self-administered questionnaires. The contents of the questionnaire addressed issues around knowledge and attitude towards disclosure, timing of disclosure and to whom, reasons for disclosure or non-disclosure, barriers to disclosure and consequences of disclosure. The study found that the majority of respondents had disclosed their HIV-status. Disclosure was more common among older participants for both men and women. In most scenarios presented to respondents, women were more willing than men to disclose their HIV status. However, men were more willing to disclose their status if they were e.g. faced with situations in which they were seriously ill, where their peers or friends were also willing to disclose their status or in cases where they would not be able to keep their hospital visits secret. Further research is needed on disclosure pattern among both males and females of low and high socio-economic status. The study recommended that the subject of disclosure should be introduced into routine HIV/AIDS improvement monitoring parameters.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Openbaarmaking van MIV-status is ‘n integrale deel van MIV-voorkomings en versorgingsprogramme. Dit speel ‘n sleutelrol wat betref die nakoming van anti-retrovirale terapie. Dit is ‘n noodsaaklike komponent van vrywillige berading en toetsing wat die weg aandui tot MIV-voorkoming, sorg en toegang tot anti-retrovirale behandeling. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die patroon van MIV-status-openbaarmaking onder mans en vroue respektiewelik te vergelyk, asook om die faktore wat MIV-status-openbaarmaking in hierdie groepe beïnvloed, te evalueer. ‘n Monster van 74 deelnemers van vier Aansteeklike Siektesbeheerklinieke in Gaberone, Botswana, het selfgeadministreerde vraelyste voltooi. Die inhoud van dié vraelyste was gerig op aangeleenthede rondom kennis en ingesteldheid teenoor openbaarmaking, die tydsberekening vir openbaarmaking en teenoor wie, redes vir openbaarmaking of nie-openbaarmaking, hindernisse rondom openbaarmaking en gevolge van openbaarmaking. Die studie het bevind dat die vlak van bewustheid oor MIV/VIGS laer onder mans as vroue was. Die meerderheid respondente het hulle MIV-status openbaar gemaak. Openbaarmaking het meer algemeen onder ouer deelnemers, mans sowel as vrouens, voorgekom. In die meeste scenarios wat aan respondent voorgelê is, het vroue groter bereidwilligheid as mans getoon om hulle MIV-status openbaar te maak. Mans was egter meer gewillig om hulle MIV-status openbaar te maak in gevalle waar hul met situasies te make gehad het dat hulle ernstig siek is, waar hulle eweknieë of vriende ook bereid was om hulle status openbaar te maak, of in gevalle waar dit nie vir hulle moontlik sou wees om hulle hospitaalbesoeke geheim te hou nie. Nog navorsing oor openbaarmakingspatrone is onder mans en vroue van lae en hoë sosio-ekonomiese status nodig. Die studie beveel aan dat die onderwerp van openbaarmaking by roetine MIV/VIGS-verbeteringsmoniteringsparameters ingesluit behoort te word.
Description
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
Keywords
Dissertations -- Industrial psychology, Theses -- Industrial psychology, Assignments -- Industrial psychology, Dissertations -- HIV/AIDS management, Theses -- HIV/AIDS management, Assignment -- HIV/AIDS management, HIV infections -- Botswana -- Gaborone, Self-disclosure -- Botswana -- Gaborone
Citation