Self-Disclosure Problems Among Sexual Partners Living with HIV/AIDS: the Case of Hospital Clients in Addis Ababa
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Date
2009-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
this study examines self-disclosure problems among-sexual partners living with HIV/AIDS who are hospital clients in city government of Addis Ababa . In this study the experience of HIV positive status, the nature of self disclosure, the reason for self disclosure and non-self disclosure, the benefit and probable risk of self disclosure, types and levels of sero-positive status self disclosure related discussions and their association with the clients' socio-demographic variables were studied.
The study applied quantitative research designs . Little qualitative methods were also injected to supplement the data, A Self-Report Questionnaire was prepared and administered for 300 participants who were clients of Black Lion and Zewditu Memorial Hospitals, proportionally , for the quantitative interpretation of the data. The qualitative data was also collected through Interview guides, natural observations, visits and document analyses, The data were analyzed through the application of both descriptive (percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential ( Chi-square (X2) statistics. The researcher found that from all the participants more than half of them had known their sero-positive status between 1 to 5 years period, 64.3 percent were started using ART while 27.3 percent did not start ART for different reasons ( 56,1 percent did not recommended by doctors and the rest 43.9 percent of them need some more counseling, time for decision and access to enough and nutritious foods ), 72.7 percent knew their HIV positive status through medical related testing, 64 percent of the total participants (N= 192) were self-disclosed their sero-positive status to their sexual partner(s). (43.7 5 percent of them disclosed that some day since diagnosed, for example) while 36 percent of them, (N = 108 ) did not yet to do so, Among the participants who disclosed their sero-positive status the opportunity to utilize the benefits and refrains from the risks of self disclosure were found to be plentiful. Moreover, only a quarter of participants relieved higher level of sero-positive status self disclosure related discussions with their sexual partners, while about half of them have lesser level of discussion and the rest 24,7 percent of then. have no discussion on the issue.
In general all the participants were found to be less frequently discussant of' their sero-positive status to their sexual partner (s), In line with these, marital status has significant group difference in the levels of self disclosure related discussions, while ethnicity has significant group difference in the types of self disclosure related discussions, Whereas, average monthly family income. self disclosure and time period for self disclosure have shown significant group differences both in the types and levels of self disclosure related discussions. On
average, about 70 percent and 60 percent of the participants agreed on reasons for self-disclosure and self-non disclosure, respectively, Thus, the reasons for self-disclosure and self-non disclosure used in this specific study could serve as
reasons both in item or group levels that can be used in studying similar researches.
Thus. facilitating self disclosure related discussions among sexual partners living with HIV/AIDS shall have resonance effect and scaled up through professional post test counseling services, proper- information dissemination programs and awareness and advocacy programs through media. This will ease self disclosure for further prevention of the spread of HIV infection among sexual partners living with HIV/ AIDS.
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Psychology