HIV-positive status disclosure with stable sexual partner at Gabriel Tour University Hospital, Bamako, Mali, 2017

Abstract

Preventing new cases of HIV infection and mother-to-child HIV transmission requires knowledge of the factors associated with HIV-positive status disclosure with the sexual partner. Our objective was to determine the factors associated with HIV-positive status disclosure with the stable sexual partner at Gabriel Toure University Hospital, Mali. We conducted a cross-sectional study from February to March 2017 at Gabriel Toure University Hospital. We included PLWH 18 years of age and older, who were living with a stable sexual partner. We used a logistic regression to estimate OR for the identification of factors associated with HIV status disclosure. Prevalence of disclosure was 60.66%. Being married monogamously (OR 7; 95% CI [2.48-19.75]) or polygamously (OR 4.84; 95% CI [1.65-14.21]), being accompanied by the partner during the HIV testing process (OR 9.0; 95% CI [3.8-21.2]), being afraid of the partner's reaction (OR 0.24; 95% CI [0.1-0.5]) and trusting the partner (OR 7.2; 95% CI [3.8-13.7]), were factors independently associated with disclosure of HIV-positive status with the stable sexual partner. Couple testing should be introduced and unmarried people living with HIV (PLWH) who are afraid of their partners and those who do not trust their partners should be supported during the disclosure process. Key words: HIV positive status, disclosure, Mali.