title: Disclosure of HIV status among HIV clinic attendees in Jamaica.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to examine factors related to disclosure of HIV serostatus among clinic attendees in an outpatient HIV clinic at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional survey of 107 attendees to a HIV clinic at the University Hospital of the West Indies. Participants were selected on a convenience basis. The instrument was developed for this study and covered socio-demographic data and self-report of disclosure and other variables related to HIV experience such as perceptions of family support. Data were analysed using nonparametric tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings demonstrate a 49% disclosure rate among males and 60% among females. The results further indicate that age, sexual orientation, mode of transmission, and perception of family support were significantly associated with disclosure. Age and perception of family support were found to be significantly associated with consistent condom use. Age and perception of family support were the factors demonstrating the most significant correlations with age being significantly associated with disclosure to partner. Perception of family support was significantly associated with disclosure to family.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings from this study demonstrate a low disclosure rate among HIV clinic attendees. Given that disclosure of HIV serostatus is critical in the control of the spread of HIV this report highlights the need for the development of prevention interventions focussed on de-stigmatization for both infected and non-infected persons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Centre for HIV/AIDS Research, Education and Services, University Hospital of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica.
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barrow
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Abel
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Barton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007563:Jamaica / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012650:Self Disclosure; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric