Assessment of SERO Status Disclosure and Sexual Behavior Among PLWHA who are on art in Assela town Health Facilities ,Arsi Zone,Oromiya Region.
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Date
2013-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: It has been three decades since HIV started its speared across the globe with a devastating impact on populations and economies of countries and regions, some more than others. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to bear an inordinate share of the global HIV burden, though epidemics across countries in Africa vary considerably, Ethiopia is one of the sub-Saharan countries worst affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
There are concerns that increased use of ART may be associated with increased sexual risk taking. There fore it is essential to see sero status disclosure and sexual behavior of PLWHAS who are taking ART as this has implication for prevention of HIV epidemic.
Objective: To assess sero status disclosure and sexual behavior among PLWHA who are on ART in Assela town health facilities, Arsi Zone, Oromiya Region.
Methodology: An institution based cross sectional study was conducted using both quantitative and qualitative methods from February to April 2013 among 324 PLWHAs who are taking ART from Assela hospital and Assela health center. Systematic random sampling method was used to select the study participant. Structured and pretested questionnaire was used for data collection.To collect qualitative data in-depth interview was conducted. The data were summarized in percentages, table and graphs; crude and adjusted odds ratios, logistic regression analysis were used to explore associations between different variables and HIV disclosure and sexual behavior.
Result: More than half of the respondents 167(51.5%) were females. The mean age of the study population was 36.33 (+7.79) years. The majority 264(81.5%) were married.
Over all 94.1% of the respondents had disclosed their HIV positive result to their regular partner and the rest (5.9%) did not disclosed. Knowledge of partners’ sero status, prior discussion about HIV, type of relation ship with partner, living in the same home and duration of HIV test were found to be determinants of sero status disclosure. Respondents whose duration of test is greater than two years were found to have eight fold increased odds of disclosure compared to those who had less than two years (AOR:8.4; 95% CI: 1.21, 57.7). The proportion of multiple partners in this study was (6%) and consistent condom use was (60.8%).
The main reason reported for not using condom were partner’s refusal (37.4%).
Conclusion: Although the magnitude of HIV positive status disclosure to regular partner found in this study was encouraging, lack of disclosure by a minority resulted in a limited ability to engage in preventive behaviors. There fore HIV prevention programs and counseling efforts should focus on disclosure of HIV test results to all type of partner and consistent condom use with all type of partners.
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Keywords
Sero status disclosure, sexual behavior, condom use, PLWHA