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Full Length
Research Paper
Rate and correlates of HIV serostatus disclosure among HIV
positive pregnant women in Nnewi southeastern Nigeria
Igwegbe AO, and
Ugboaja JO.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nnamdi Azikiwe
University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author E-mail:
tigwegbe@yahoo.com
Received 18 June, 2010; Accepted 03 August, 2010
This is a cross sectional survey of 280 HIV positive
pregnant women attending a PMTCT clinic in Nnewi,
southeastern Nigeria to determine the rate, pattern,
outcome, and barriers to HIV serostatus disclosure. All the
women had known their status for more than three months. Two
hundred and seventy two (97.1 %.) of the women had disclosed
their HIV status. Out of this number, 90.0% disclosed to
their husbands; 23.5% to a priest/pastor and 11.4% to a
close family member. The only reason for non disclosure to
husbands was the fear of divorce. The partner’s reaction was
supportive and understanding in all cases. Being single (x2=11.46;
p= 0.00), low educational status (x2=7.64; p=
0.02), Anglican Christian denomination (x2=84;
p=0.00) and non membership of a support group(x2=7.66;
p= 0.00) significantly increased the likelihood of non
disclosure. There was no significant association between
age, parity, knowledge of partner’s HIV status, duration of
illness and the likelihood of serostatus disclosure. We
conclude that the rate of serostatus disclosure among HIV
positive pregnant women in Nnewi is high and the outcome is
supportive. However, the fear of divorce should be addressed
during post test counseling on serostatus disclosure.
Keywords: Serostatus disclosure, rates, barriers,
Nigerian pregnant women, PMTCT |