Disclosure of HIV Status Beyond Sexual Partners by People Living with HIV in France: A Call for Help? Results from the National Cross-Sectional Survey ANRS-VESPA2.

Abstract

HIV status disclosure remains a complex issue for most people living with HIV (PLWH). We analyzed PLWH disclosure behaviors in France, where treatment is free and where the social image of HIV has improved in the general population. Analyses focused on disclosure to the social network excluding sexual partners (close family, other relatives, friends, colleagues). The study sample comprised 3016 participants from the nationally representative survey ANRS-VESPA2. Three PLWH clusters were identified using hierarchical classification ("high disclosure level": 28.2%, "medium disclosure level": 27.5%, and "low disclosure level": 44.3%). In multivariable analyses, the variable "not living in a couple but psychological social support needed" was independently associated with medium (AOR [95% CI] 1.8 [1.4; 2.3]) and high levels of disclosure (1.4 [1.1; 1.8]) (multinomial regression models). For PLWH living alone, HIV status disclosure may reveal a need for psychological social support, a key component to treatment adherence and positive prevention.