FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HIV VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE TO ONE'S STEADY SEXUAL PARTNER IN MALI: RESULTS FROM A COMMUNITY-BASED STUDY
Résumé
Despite the widespread dissemination of HIV information through
public awareness campaigns in Mali, disclosing seropositivity to one’s steady
sexual partner (SSP) remains difficult for people living with HIV (PLHIV). Disclosure
is a public health concern with serious implications and is also strongly
linked to the quality of life of PLHIV. This study aimed to analyse factors
associated with voluntary HIV disclosure to one’s SSP, using a community-based
cross-sectional study on 300 adult PLHIV in contact with a Malian communitybased
organization working in the field of AIDS response. A 125-item questionnaire
was administered by trained personnel to study participants between May
and October 2011. Analysis was restricted to the 219 participants who both
reported having a SSP and answered to the question on disclosure to their
SSP. A weighted multivariate logistic regression was used to determine variables
independently associated with disclosure. In total, 161 participants (73%) reported
HIV disclosure to their SSP. Having children (odds ratio [95% confidence
interval]: 4.52 [1.84–11.12]), being accompanied to the survey site (3.66
[1.00–13.33]), knowing others who had publicly declared their seropositivity
(3.12 [1.59–6.12]), having higher self-esteem (1.55 [1.09–2.19]) and using means
other than anti-retroviral treatment to treat HIV (0.33 [0.11–1.00]) were independently
associated with disclosure. This study identified several factors that
should be considered for the design of interventions aimed at facilitating disclosure
if/when desired in this cultural context.