title: Spousal disclosure of HIV serostatus among women attending antenatal care in urban Nigeria.
abstract: About 80% of HIV-positive pregnant women in our unit have a seronegative spouse. The prevalence, pattern and determinants of spousal disclosure of HIV serostatus was evaluated among 166 HIV-positive pregnant women receiving antiretroviral treatment. Although 146 women (88%) disclosed their HIV serostatus, 20 women (12%) did not disclose their status to their spouse. Non-disclosure was significantly associated with nulliparous (p=0.024) and unmarried women (p=0.026). Fear, regarding spread of the information (57.8%), stigmatisation (53%) and deterioration in the relationship with the spouse (47%) were the three commonest reasons for non-disclosure. Disclosure of HIV-positive status remains a sensitive issue among infected pregnant women. Strategies to reduce the stigma associated with HIV infection, appropriate management of the information following disclosure of seropositive status by HIV-infected persons are necessary to encourage disclosure to sexual partners and ultimately prevent new HIV infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo state, Nigeria.
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Olagbuji
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ezeanochie
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Agholor
authors.forename: Y W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Olagbuji
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Ande
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Okonofua
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012747:Sexual Partners; D057545:Social Stigma; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents