title: HIV disclosure status and factors among adult HIV positive patients in a secondary health facility in North-Eastern Nigeria, 2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Disclosure of HIV status especially to sexual partners is an important prevention goal. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of HIV status disclosure and the factors associated with disclosure by HIV positive patients attending the adult Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) clinic in State Specialist Hospital Gombe (SSHG) a secondary health facility in north-eastern Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross sectional study among adult HIV positive patients enrolled into the HIV/AIDS programme of SSHG. Study participant were sampled using a systematic random sampling. Interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, disclosure status and factors associated with disclosure. Data was analyzed using Epi-info software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 198 (99%) respondents, 159 (80.3%) were females. The mean age of respondents was 32.9 years (SD ± 9.5). Sixty percent of the respondents were married. Most (97.5%) had disclosed their HIV status and majority (36.8%) disclosed to their spouses. Sixty four percent of the respondents had treatment supporter and spouses (42.9%) were their choice of a treatment supporter. Disclosure of HIV status was found to be associated with age < 40 years Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 38.16; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 2.42-602.61. Gender, employment status, educational level, duration of infection and marital status were not found to be significantly associated with disclosure of HIV status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Disclosure of HIV status was high in the study population. Spouses were the most preferred choice of persons to disclose HIV status to, and the most adopted as treatment supporter. HIV status disclosure is encouraged after diagnosis because of its importance especially among couples.
authors.affiliation: Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (NFELTP), Abuja, Nigeria ; State Specialist Hospital, Gombe, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Raymond Salanga
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Dankoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Alhaji A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Aliyu
authors.affiliation: Global Public Health Solutions, Decatur, 30033, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nsubuga
authors.affiliation: Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (NFELTP), Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nguku
authors.affiliation: Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (NFELTP), Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Okechukwu P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Ossai
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Dahiru
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tukur
authors.affiliation: Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (NFELTP), Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Luka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.affiliation: State Specialist Hospital, Gombe, Nigeria.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Madi
authors.affiliation: Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (NFELTP), Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dalhat
authors.affiliation: Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (NFELTP), Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdullaziz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D063728:Secondary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D047568:Unsafe Sex; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Disclosure Factors; Gombe state; HIV status; Nigeria; North-East