title: Predictors of HIV Disclosure in Infected Persons Presenting to Establish Care.
abstract: Persons receiving effective HIV treatment experience longevity and improvement in quality of life. For those infected, social support is associated with improved medication adherence. Disclosure of infection status is likely a prerequisite for social support. However, little research describes patterns of HIV disclosure by infected persons. We retrospectively evaluated factors associated with disclosure among patients initiating HIV care at a university-based clinic from 2007 to 2012. Of 490 persons initiating care, 13 % had not disclosed their HIV infection to anyone. Black race significantly predicted non-disclosure and persons living with a significant other or friends were more likely to have disclosed their HIV infection versus those living alone. CD4 + T lymphocyte count <200 was associated with nondisclosure and disclosure only to family members. Future research is needed to better understand factors associated with disclosure of HIV infection status, because this could enhance receipt of social support and contribute to improved HIV health outcomes.
authors: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama, ZRB 206, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA. lelopre@uabmc.edu.
authors: Latesha
authors: L
authors: Elopre
authors: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama, ZRB 206, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
authors: Andrew O
authors: AO
authors: Westfall
authors: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama, ZRB 206, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Mugavero
authors: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama, ZRB 206, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Zinski
authors: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama, ZRB 206, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
authors: Greer
authors: G
authors: Burkholder
authors: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama, ZRB 206, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
authors: Edward W
authors: EW
authors: Hook
authors: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama, ZRB 206, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
authors: Nicholas
authors: N
authors: Van Wagoner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000407:Alabama; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012944:Social Support; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D019562:Viral Load
keywords: Disclosure; HIV; Outcomes; Social support