title: Disclosure of HIV status to sexual partners by people living with HIV.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Disclosure of one's HIV status to a sexual partner can have significant health implications. From a health promotion point of view, disclosure is seen as a cornerstone for the prevention of HIV transmission between partners. Despite its importance as a strategy for controlling the spread of HIV, there are challenges that inhibit voluntary disclosure.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In exploring factors associated with disclosure of HIV status, the study had two complementary objectives related to: (1) investigation of participants' views about HIV-positive status disclosure to sexual partners; and (2) a broader identification of factors that influence disclosure of HIV-positive status.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study explored factors associated with disclosure of the HIV status of people living with HIV to their sexual partners. Purposive sampling was used to select 13 participants living with HIV who attended a wellness clinic. Primary data were collected via an in-depth interview with each of the participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The exploration showed that male participants were notably more reluctant to disclose to their sexual partners for fear of rejection; and secrecy was commonly reported around sexual matters. Female participants (who were in the majority) were relatively more willing to disclose their HIV status to their sexual partners. Despite the complexity of disclosure, all participants understood the importance of disclosure to their sexual partners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need for HIV prevention strategies to focus on men in particular, so as to strengthen disclosure counselling services provided to people living with HIV and to advocate strongly for partner testing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Studies, University of South Africa. tshweg@unisa.ac.za.
authors.forename: Gloria T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Tshweneagae
authors.forename: Victoria M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Oss
authors.forename: Tennyson
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mgutshini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000502:physiology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012737:Sex Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D013019:South Africa; D055815:Young Adult