PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess perceptions of HIV positive (+) persons regarding disclosure of their serostatus to others with the goal of developing a model of HIV disclosure that could be used by healthcare providers (HCPs) in HIV prevention. DATA SOURCES: Data were collected through 13 focus groups from 104 HIV+ participants. The groups were formed based on three HIV risk exposure categories--men who have sex with men, high-risk heterosexuals, and substance users. CONCLUSIONS: Data analysis revealed three themes: disclosure of one's HIV+ serostatus depends on type of social relationships, fear, and stigma, with social relationships being the major theme. A model of HIV disclosure emerged from the data analysis of social relationships. In the model, social relationships were categorized as sexual and nonsexual, with varying degrees of HIV disclosure-depending on the social relationship with the person to whom one did or did not disclose. Results indicated that HIV is still a fearful and stigmatizing disease, and disclosure of HIV status is a complex phenomenon embedded in various types of social relationships. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Results of this study provide a "Model of HIV Disclosure" that can be utilized by nurse practitioners and other HCPs in clinical practice when providing treatment, counseling, and prevention education for HIV+ clients and for prevention education for HIV negative clients--especially for family, friends, sexual partners, and employers of HIV+ clients.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess perceptions of HIV positive (+) persons regarding disclosure of their serostatus to others with the goal of developing a model of HIV disclosure that could be used by healthcare providers (HCPs) in HIV prevention. DATA SOURCES: Data were collected through 13 focus groups from 104 HIV+ participants. The groups were formed based on three HIV risk exposure categories--men who have sex with men, high-risk heterosexuals, and substance users. CONCLUSIONS: Data analysis revealed three themes: disclosure of one's HIV+ serostatus depends on type of social relationships, fear, and stigma, with social relationships being the major theme. A model of HIV disclosure emerged from the data analysis of social relationships. In the model, social relationships were categorized as sexual and nonsexual, with varying degrees of HIV disclosure-depending on the social relationship with the person to whom one did or did not disclose. Results indicated that HIV is still a fearful and stigmatizing disease, and disclosure of HIV status is a complex phenomenon embedded in various types of social relationships. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Results of this study provide a "Model of HIV Disclosure" that can be utilized by nurse practitioners and other HCPs in clinical practice when providing treatment, counseling, and prevention education for HIV+ clients and for prevention education for HIV negative clients--especially for family, friends, sexual partners, and employers of HIV+ clients.
Authors: Jennifer N Sayles; Ron D Hays; Catherine A Sarkisian; Anish P Mahajan; Karen L Spritzer; William E Cunningham Journal: AIDS Behav Date: 2008-04-04
Authors: Vivian F Go; Carl Latkin; Nguyen Le Minh; Constantine Frangakis; Tran Viet Ha; Teerada Sripaipan; Tran Thi Mo; Wendy W Davis; Pham The Vu; Vu Minh Quan Journal: AIDS Behav Date: 2016-01
Authors: Laurie Abler; Kathleen J Sikkema; Melissa H Watt; Nathan B Hansen; Patrick A Wilson; Arlene Kochman Journal: AIDS Patient Care STDS Date: 2015-10 Impact factor: 5.078