The effect of counseling, antiretroviral therapy and relationship on disclosing HIV positive status to sexual partner among adult HIV patients in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Melaku Yalew,Bezawit Adane,Yitayish Damtie,Asressie Molla,Bereket Kefale,Sisay Eshete Tadesse,Claudia Marotta

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0249887

Abstract

BackgroundHuman Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is continued as a major public health problem, especially in developing countries. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the effect of counseling, antiretroviral therapy (ART) and relationship on disclosing HIV positive status to sexual partner among adult HIV patients in Ethiopia.MethodsThe Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) was used during this review. The study included both published and unpublished studies which were conducted in Ethiopia until the end of 2019. Different electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane library, CINAHL, Global Health, HINARI and Google scholar) were searched. Data were extracted in Microsoft Excel sheet and STATA/SE 14 was used to meta-analysis. I2 and Egger test statistics were used to test heterogeneity and publication bias respectively.ResultsTwenty-two articles with 8,873 adult HIV infected peoples were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled magnitude of disclosing HIV status to sexual partner was 74.63% [95% CI: (67.79, 81.47)]. Counseled [AOR = 4.96, 95% CI: (2.87, 8.55)], ART initiated [AOR = 4.78, 95% CI: (3.84, 5.94)] and who had a smooth relationship before HIV testing [AOR = 6.82, 95% CI: (3.49, 13.33)] were significantly associated with disclosing HIV status to sexual partner.ConclusionsDisclosing HIV positive status to sexual partner in Ethiopia was low as the government invested in partner notification. Counseling, ART initiation and smooth relationship before HIV testing were significantly associated with disclosing HIV status to sexual partner. The government needs to strengthen pre and post HIV test counseling even after treatment started to increase disclosing status.RegistrationThe protocol of this systematic review and meta-analysis was registered in the PROSPERO with a specific registration number: CRD42020161276; https://clinicaltrials.gov/.

Highlights

An estimated 36.8 million people were living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), of which the burden was high in Sub-Saharan Africa [1,2]
Counseled [AOR = 4.96, 95% CI: (2.87, 8.55)], antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiated [AOR = 4.78, 95% CI: (3.84, 5.94)] and who had a smooth relationship before HIV testing [AOR = 6.82, 95% CI: (3.49, 13.33)] were significantly associated with disclosing HIV status to sexual partner
Disclosing HIV positive status to sexual partner in Ethiopia was low as the government invested in partner notification

Summary

Introduction

An estimated 36.8 million people were living with HIV, of which the burden was high in Sub-Saharan Africa [1,2]. Several studies have revealed that individuals diagnosed with HIV infection continue to have unprotected sex without informing their sexual partners, who may be of negative or unknown serostatus [5]. A recent study showed that serostatus disclosure reduced the risk of HIV transmission by 17.9% to 40.6% [7,8]. This and, non-disclosure significantly associated to develop depression [9]. This study aimed to estimate the effect of counseling, antiretroviral therapy (ART) and relationship on disclosing HIV positive status to sexual partner among adult HIV patients in Ethiopia

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Discussion

Conclusion