title: Factors associated with disclosure of HIV status among a cohort of individuals on antiretroviral therapy in British Columbia, Canada.
abstract: We sought to examine the prevalence and correlates of HIV-disclosure among treatment-experienced individuals in British Columbia, Canada. Study participants completed an interviewer-administered survey between July 2007 and January 2010. The primary outcome of interest was disclosing one's HIV-positive status to all new sexual partners within the last 6 months. An exploratory logistic regression model was developed to identify variables independently associated with disclosure. Of the 657 participants included in this analysis, 73.4 % disclosed their HIV-positive status to all of their sexual partners. Factors independently associated with non-disclosure included identifying as a woman (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.92; 95 % confidence interval [95 % CI] 1.13-3.27) or as a gay or bisexual man (AOR 2.45; 95 % CI 1.47-4.10). Behaviours that were independently associated with non-disclosure were having sex with a stranger (AOR 2.74; 95 % CI 1.46-5.17), not being on treatment at the time of interview (AOR 2.67; 95 % CI 1.40-5.11), and not always using a condom (AOR 1.78; 95 % CI 1.09-2.90). Future preventative strategies should focus on environmental and social factors that may inhibit vulnerable HIV-positive populations, such as women and gay or bisexual men, from safely disclosing their positive status.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hirsch Allen
authors.forename: Jamie I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Forrest
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanters
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Kate A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Salters
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McCandless
authors.forename: Julio S G
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Montaner
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hogg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D057566:Self Report; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014342:Truth Disclosure
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents