title: Pattern and predictors of partner disclosure of HIV status among HIV positive pregnant women in Nnewi Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sub-Saharan Africa has continued to bear the greatest burden of HIV/AIDS epidemic in the world. Partner disclosure of status may create opportunities for support or rejection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the pattern of partner disclosure of HIV positive women, their partners' reaction and factors that affect disclosure of HIV status to partners.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among pregnant women in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain relevant information from the subjects. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and twenty six women participated in this study. The mean age of the women was 30.4 years +/- 5 while the mean parity was 2.6 +/- 1. All the patients had at least primary education with 63.5% having secondary education as the highest educational attainment. One hundred and sixteen (92.1%) were in monogamous marriage. One hundred and fourteen 90.5%) had disclosed their HIV status to their partners. Eighty-three (66.7%) of the women did this by self. Partners initial reaction was supportive in 84 (66.7%) of the women. Partner's subsequent reaction showed that 103 (81.2%) were supportive, 7 (5.6%) were indifferent while 4 (3.2%) were abusive and violent. The partner's HIV status showed that 54 (42.9) tested positive to HIV antibodies while 52 (41.3%) tested negative to HIV antibodies and 20 (15.9%) do not know partner's HIV status. There was strong correlation between disclosure of HIV status with monogamous marriage and duration of illness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The partners' reaction to HIV status of their female partners was largely supportive. Disclosure of HIV status should be encouraged in view of the needed support of the partner in management of these women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital P O Box 643 Nnewi Anambra State. go.udigwe@unizik.edu.ng
authors.forename: G O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Udigwe
authors.forename: I I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Mbachu
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Oguaka
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Onyegbule
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Udegbunam
authors.forename: O S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Umeononihu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016358:Contact Tracing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D055815:Young Adult