title: Factors associated with HIV voluntary disclosure of people living with HIV to their steady sexual partner in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: results from a community-based participatory research.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  HIV disclosure to a steady sexual partner (SSP) is important both in preventing HIV transmission and improving the quality of life of people living with HIV (PLHIV). Its determinants have been poorly investigated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The study objective was to determine factors independently associated with voluntary disclosure to one's SSP in PLHIV receiving services from a Congolese community-based organization (CBO).
  
  
  METHODS
  A community-based participatory research was performed and 300 PLHIV were interviewed by members of the CBO, using a standardized questionnaire. A multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the variables independently associated with disclosure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this sample, 79 of the 127 participants (62%) included in the analysis declared having voluntarily disclosed their serostatus to their SSP. Declaring to be in a relationship (Odds Ratio (95% Confidence Interval): 4.2 (1.4-12.6)), having tested for HIV because of symptoms (2.5 (1.0-6.4)), having taken the test on one's own initiative (3.2 (1.3-8.0)), having felt sympathy and indifference from people when disclosing (6.0 (1.4-26.9) and 5.0 (1.1-22.8), respectively) as well as having a higher score of the "regular discussion about daily life with HIV" index (1.7 (1.1-2.5)) were significantly associated with disclosure to one's SSP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several individual and contextual factors were associated with voluntary disclosure to SSP in this study, highlighting the complex nature of the disclosure process. Interventions encouraging disclosure should be designed so as to adapt to one's personal life with HIV as well as psychosocial environment.
authors: Ecole de Santé Publique de l'Université de Kinshasa, République Démocratique du Congo.
authors: Eddy Kieto
authors: EK
authors: Zola
authors: Actions Communautaires Sida/Avenir Meilleur pour les Orphelins au Congo, République Démocratique du Congo ; Coalition Internationale Sida, Tour Essor, 14 rue Scandicci, 93500 Pantin, France.
authors: Gaspard Matamba
authors: GM
authors: Gifudu
authors: Coalition Internationale Sida, Tour Essor, 14 rue Scandicci, 93500 Pantin, France.
authors: Emilie
authors: E
authors: Henry
authors: Coalition Internationale Sida, Tour Essor, 14 rue Scandicci, 93500 Pantin, France.
authors: Adeline
authors: A
authors: Bernier
authors: Actions Communautaires Sida/Avenir Meilleur pour les Orphelins au Congo, République Démocratique du Congo ; Coalition Internationale Sida, Tour Essor, 14 rue Scandicci, 93500 Pantin, France.
authors: Henri Mukumbi
authors: HM
authors: Masangu
authors: Coalition Internationale Sida, Tour Essor, 14 rue Scandicci, 93500 Pantin, France.
authors: Alise
authors: A
authors: Abadie
authors: Coalition Internationale Sida, Tour Essor, 14 rue Scandicci, 93500 Pantin, France.
authors: Lionel
authors: L
authors: Fugon
authors: Université du Québec à Montréal, CREcES, Montréal, Canada.
authors: Joanne
authors: J
authors: Otis
authors: GRePS, Institut de Psychologie, Université Lumière Lyon 2, Lyon, France.
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: Préau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014342:Truth Disclosure
keywords: HIV; community-based research; serostatus disclosure; sexual partner; testing