title: "Was it a mistake to tell others that you are infected with HIV?": factors associated with regret following HIV disclosure among people living with HIV in five countries (Mali, Morocco, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador and Romania). Results from a community-based research.
abstract: This study examined regret following HIV serostatus disclosure and associated factors in under-investigated contexts (Mali, Morocco, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador and Romania). A community-based cross-sectional study was implemented by a mixed consortium [researchers/community-based organizations (CBO)]. Trained CBO members interviewed 1,500 PLHIV in contact with CBOs using a 125-item questionnaire. A weighted multivariate logistic regression was performed. Among the 1,212 participants included in the analysis, 290 (23.9 %) declared that disclosure was a mistake. Female gender, percentage of PLHIV's network knowing about one's seropositivity from a third party, having suffered rejection after disclosure, having suffered HIV-based discrimination at work, perceived seriousness of infection score, daily loneliness, property index and self-esteem score were independently associated with regret. Discrimination, as well as individual characteristics and skills may affect the disclosure experience. Interventions aiming at improving PLHIV skills and reducing their social isolation may facilitate the disclosure process and avoid negative consequences.
authors.affiliation: Coalition Internationale Sida, Pantin, France.
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Adeline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernier
authors.forename: Florin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lazar
authors.forename: Gaspard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matamba
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loukid
authors.forename: Cesar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonifaz
authors.forename: Samba
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Diop
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Otis
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Préau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D004484:Ecuador; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008302:Mali; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco; D012383:Romania; D012649:Self Concept; D012650:Self Disclosure; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012934:Social Isolation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D055815:Young Adult